flint: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, technical, historical, literary
Quick answer
What does “flint” mean?
A hard, grey, sedimentary rock, a form of silica, that produces sparks when struck against steel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hard, grey, sedimentary rock, a form of silica, that produces sparks when struck against steel.
The piece of flint used in older firearms or lighters; a small piece used to strike a spark; figuratively, something characterized by hardness, durability, or unyieldingness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The US state of Michigan is known as 'the Great Lakes State', but the 'Flint' area is more notable for its water crisis.
Connotations
Connotations of primitiveness, ancient tools, survival, and durability are shared. In British archaeology, 'flint' is heavily associated with Stone Age tools (flintknapping).
Frequency
Similar frequency, though possibly slightly higher in British English due to historical archaeology and geology contexts (e.g., the chalk downs and flint mines).
Grammar
How to Use “flint” in a Sentence
N of flint (a heart of flint)made of/from flintstrike [object] with a flintVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flint” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He managed to flint a spark even in the damp conditions.
- The old technique involved flinting the steel sharply.
American English
- She flinted the firestarter expertly.
- You need to flint at just the right angle.
adverb
British English
- This usage is extremely rare to non-existent; 'flintily' is the adverbial form of the adjective 'flinty'.
American English
- This usage is extremely rare to non-existent.
adjective
British English
- The cottage had distinctive flint walls.
- He gave a flinty stare that silenced the room.
American English
- They built a flint hearth for the campfire.
- Her flint-like determination was legendary.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in naming (e.g., 'Flint Holdings') or metaphorically in leadership contexts ('flint-like resolve').
Academic
Common in archaeology, geology, and history texts discussing prehistoric technology and sedimentary rocks.
Everyday
Limited to discussing historical lighters, fire-starting in survival contexts, or as a metaphor for hardness.
Technical
Specific usage in geology for microcrystalline quartz, and in archaeology for lithic tools and debitage analysis.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flint”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flint”
- Pronouncing it as /flaɪnt/ (like 'fly' + 'nt').
- Using 'flint' as a verb without the particle 'up' (e.g., 'He flinted the lighter' is incorrect; 'He flinted up a spark' is possible but archaic).
- Confusing 'flint' with 'chert' in non-technical writing (they are mineralogically similar but not identical).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be used as a verb meaning 'to provide or fit with flint' or 'to strike a spark with flint', but this usage is rare and archaic outside of historical reenactment contexts.
In geology, flint is a specific variety of chert, typically found in chalk or limestone. Flint is often darker and of higher quality for tool-making. In general usage, they are often used interchangeably.
Yes, it can refer to the small, synthetic spark-producing rod in a disposable lighter, though this is technically a 'ferrocerium' rod, not true flint.
Only when it's a proper noun, such as the city of Flint in Michigan, USA, or a brand name. The common noun for the rock is lowercase.
A hard, grey, sedimentary rock, a form of silica, that produces sparks when struck against steel.
Flint is usually formal, technical, historical, literary in register.
Flint: in British English it is pronounced /flɪnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /flɪnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “set one's face like flint (to be determined and unyielding)”
- “a heart of flint (a cruel, unfeeling nature)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FLINT = Fire Light INTiated. The hard stone that initiates fire.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARDNESS IS FLINT (for character: 'flinty gaze', 'heart of flint'); ORIGIN/SPARK IS FLINT ('a flint of an idea').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common metaphorical use of 'flint'?