What does "induration" mean?
Hardness.
Induration
/ɪndjʊˈɹeɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Hardness.
- Grammar: induration is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: armor, arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, callosity.
- Usage evidence: The voice was harder than I had known, and not only in stony reaction to long floods of wholly just selfpity, also roughened with gin and smoke, perhaps also assimilated to New York induration, the hardness of culture as well as of pain.
How to use "induration"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "induration" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "induration" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "induration" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "induration" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "induration" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "armor" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "induration", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Hardness. countable, uncountable
"The voice was harder than I had known, and not only in stony reaction to long floods of wholly just selfpity, also roughened with gin and smoke, perhaps also assimilated to New York induration, the hardness of culture as well as of pain."
- 2 any pathological hardening or thickening of tissue wordnet
- 3 An enduring presence; fixity. countable, uncountable
"Even the putatively innocuous whimsical shapes and designs of cakes and pastry, notably in Central Europe, retain to this day the phallic concept, the cryptic induration of the aphrodisiac function."
- 4 The process of becoming hard. countable, uncountable
- 5 A hardening of an area of the body as a reaction to inflammation, hyperemia, or neoplastic infiltration. countable, uncountable
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 An area or part of the body that has undergone such a reaction. broadly, countable, uncountable
"Both erythema and induration appear to be adequate indices of tuberculin sensitivity."
- 7 The quality of nonfriability; the extent to which a rock does not crumble; rock strength. countable, uncountable
""Induration is a measure of rock "strength" and is defined as the ratio of the measured frame modulus to the maximum frame modulus allowed by the Gassmann-Biot model." Spratt, R. S.; Goins, N. R. and Fitch, T. J. (1993) "Pseudo-shear — The analysis of AVO." Castagna, John P. and Backus, Milo M. (eds.) Offset-Dependent Reflectivity — Theory and Practice of AVO Analysis. Series: Investigation in Geophysics volume 8. Tulsa : Society of Exploration Geophysicistspp. 37-56, page 37, isbn 978-1-56080-059-0."
- 8 The process of the strengthening of rocks by heating, compaction or cementation, or a combination thereof. countable, uncountable
""Induration of carbonate rocks proceeds predominately in the early stages (prior to diagenesis) by compaction and expulsion of fluids." Whittaker, Alun (1985) Formation Evaluation: Geological Procedures Dordrecht : Springer Verlag page 104, isbn 978-94-010-8861-9."
Example
"The voice was harder than I had known, and not only in stony reaction to long floods of wholly just selfpity, also roughened with gin and smoke, perhaps also assimilated to New York induration, the hardness of culture as well as of pain."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "induration"?
Common synonyms include: armor, arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, callosity, callousness, callus.
How do you use "induration" in a sentence?
The voice was harder than I had known, and not only in stony reaction to long floods of wholly just selfpity, also roughened with gin and smoke, perhaps also assimilated to New York induration, the hardness of culture as well as of pain.
How do you pronounce "induration"?
Pronounced /ɪndjʊˈɹeɪʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English induracioun, from Old French induracion (“hardness, obstinacy”) or directly from Medieval Latin induratiō.