: the dioxide of silicon SiO2 occurring in crystalline, amorphous, and impure forms (as in quartz, opal, and sand respectively)
Examples of silica in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The result was a graphene-silica fiber membrane (G@SFM), a cloth-like material that is both lightweight and thermally stable.
—
Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia — fear of long words (The longest word found in major English dictionaries is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a 45-letter word describing a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
But Hairston warns the lack of protections against silica dust will exacerbate problems in the industry by threatening a labor shortage, because younger workers in an aging workforce are now getting black lung.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Opal, which is easily the most mystical, with its whimsical and cloud-like white, blue, and iridescent green swirls of color, is the crystalline form of silica and mineraloid found in rocks.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silica
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia — fear of long words (The longest word found in major English dictionaries is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a 45-letter word describing a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
But Hairston warns the lack of protections against silica dust will exacerbate problems in the industry by threatening a labor shortage, because younger workers in an aging workforce are now getting black lung.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Opal, which is easily the most mystical, with its whimsical and cloud-like white, blue, and iridescent green swirls of color, is the crystalline form of silica and mineraloid found in rocks.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silica
Cite this Entry
“Silica.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silica. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
silica
noun
sil·i·ca
ˈsil-i-kə 
: a compound that consists of the dioxide of silicon and occurs in various forms (as in quartz, opal, and sand)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share