nugget

American  

[nuhg-it] / ˈnʌg ɪt /

noun

1. a lump of something, as of precious metal.

2. a lump of native gold.

3. anything of great value, significance, or the like.

   nuggets of wisdom.

4. a bite-size piece of chicken, fish, etc., usually batter-fried.

5. Welding. (in a spot-weld) the metal fused.

6. Australian.

   1. a powerful, heavy animal.

   2. a strong, thickset man.

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Nugget ¹ British  

/ ˈnʌɡɪt /

noun

1. shoe polish

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verb

1. informal (tr; sometimes not capital) to shine (shoes)

nugget ² British  

/ ˈnʌɡɪt /

noun

1. a small piece or lump, esp of gold in its natural state

2. something small but valuable or excellent

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Other Word Forms

• nuggety adjective

Etymology

Origin of nugget

1850–55; perhaps diminutive of obsolete nug small piece, variant of nog ²; -et

Example Sentences

It’s notable that Vance saved this nugget about demons for Johnson, who works with TPUSA, which bills itself as a youth outreach organization.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

An alarming nugget buried in the Treasury Department’s annual report External link on the federal government’s books from the last fiscal year: Its long-term liabilities exceed its expected revenue by tens of trillions of dollars.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Beguiled by photos of teensy piglets, she chose the runt of the litter—a tiny, shivering nugget for $350.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Since the match against Newcastle on 18 January, dad Tom said people had stopped him the street to call him a "chicken nugget thief".

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

Like an oil deposit, or a nugget of gold.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste