# grist

/ˈɡɹɪst/ (US) · /ɡɹˈɪst/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grist
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

useful material or information that you can use to support an argument or help with a creative project. It comes from the word for grain that is ready to be ground into flour.

For teachers: useful material or information that can be turned to one's advantage or used as the basis for a creative work. Often appears in the idiomatic phrase 'grist for the mill'.

## Examples

- Every mistake he makes is just grist for his comedy routine.
- The journalist viewed the leaked documents as grist for her upcoming investigative series on local government corruption.
- For a novelist, even the most mundane or painful personal experiences are eventually processed as grist, providing the raw emotional texture necessary for authentic storytelling.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the figurative expression 'grist for the mill' or 'grist to the mill'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.