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DictionaryligniteBrown coal
noun

lignite

LIG-nite/ˈlɪɡnaɪt/

A soft brownish coal with relatively low carbon content.

The brown lignite breaks into friable fragments and crumbs along its woody layers.

A close specimen view of dull brown lignite: one large, friable lump with woody-looking layers, a freshly broken fragment, and loose brown crumbs.
Etymology
ligniteFrenchwoody brown coal

The woody-coal name lignite has a literal connection with Latin lignum, “wood”: this brown coal can still show traces of the wood it once was.

In context

Lignite Energy Council1:06
lignite is a soft brown coal that has a low heat content meaning it gives off fairly low amounts of energy compared to the other types of coal
Introduction to Lignite

More examples

  • Lignite contains less carbon than harder types of coal.
  • The freshly mined lignite looks brown rather than black.
  • Workers load the lignite onto a train near the mine.

Similar words

brown coal
Another name for the same soft, relatively low-carbon coal.
coal
A broader term covering lignite and harder, carbon-rich varieties.