lignite
noun
lig·nite ˈlig-ˌnīt 
: a usually brownish black coal intermediate between peat and bituminous coal
especially : one in which the texture of the original wood is distinct
called also brown coal
lignitic
lig-ˈni-tik
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Greece plans to double the use of lignite, a soft, emissions-heavy type of coal, to reduce the natural gas the country is using to generate electricity. 
Elinda Labropoulou, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 Fifteen of these are coal plants, 6 oil and 5 lignite, which will be put on a security alert. Time, 24 May 2022 Black or brown hydrogen uses black coal or lignite (brown coal) in the hydrogen-making process. Tim Fitzpatrick, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 The European Court of Justice in September fined Poland 500,000 euros a day for refusing to comply with its ruling to halt operations of a lignite mine near the Czech Republic pending a ruling on a lawsuit brought by the Czech government. New York Times, 8 Feb. 2022 Because lignite sits closer to the surface than bituminous coal, workers don’t need to dig deep shafts and tunnels. Alec Macgillis, ProPublica, 31 Jan. 2022 Local, highly-emitting energy sources such as lignite, are particularly difficult to phase out, as their extraction and use often underlie the existence of entire local communities. Baker Institute, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 At stake is the future of one of Poland’s largest lignite mine, located in the city of Turów. Baker Institute, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 While turbines and solar panels are scattered across the country, Greece clung to oil and lignite coal for decades as vested Greek oil industry interests thwarted change. New York Times, 29 Oct. 2021 See More
Elinda Labropoulou, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 Fifteen of these are coal plants, 6 oil and 5 lignite, which will be put on a security alert. Time, 24 May 2022 Black or brown hydrogen uses black coal or lignite (brown coal) in the hydrogen-making process. Tim Fitzpatrick, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 The European Court of Justice in September fined Poland 500,000 euros a day for refusing to comply with its ruling to halt operations of a lignite mine near the Czech Republic pending a ruling on a lawsuit brought by the Czech government. New York Times, 8 Feb. 2022 Because lignite sits closer to the surface than bituminous coal, workers don’t need to dig deep shafts and tunnels. Alec Macgillis, ProPublica, 31 Jan. 2022 Local, highly-emitting energy sources such as lignite, are particularly difficult to phase out, as their extraction and use often underlie the existence of entire local communities. Baker Institute, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 At stake is the future of one of Poland’s largest lignite mine, located in the city of Turów. Baker Institute, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2021 While turbines and solar panels are scattered across the country, Greece clung to oil and lignite coal for decades as vested Greek oil industry interests thwarted change. New York Times, 29 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
French, from Latin lignum
First Known Use
circa 1808, in the meaning defined above