Word
miner
Phoneticsmin·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmaɪnɝ/
UK/mˈaɪnɐ/
Definitions
01worker in a mine
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who works underground to get coal, gold, or other minerals out of the earth.
n. a person whose occupation is the extraction of minerals, coal, or other geological materials from the earth.
“The coal miner returned home tired and covered in dust after his shift.”
“Historically, the local economy relied almost entirely on the wages earned by the miners working the deep seams of anthracite.”
Pitfall
The law protects the rights of every miner under 18.
The law protects the rights of every minor under 18.
Do not confuse 'miner' (a worker) with 'minor' (a person under the legal age).
Synonyms
02cryptocurrency
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a person or a powerful computer that processes digital transactions to earn new cryptocurrency.
n. a person or a computer system that performs complex calculations to verify transactions and mint new units of cryptocurrency.
“He set up a powerful computer in his basement to act as a bitcoin miner.”
“As the difficulty of the algorithm increased, individual miners found it nearly impossible to compete with large-scale server farms.”
Teaching tip
This sense is relatively new; ensure students understand it refers to both the person and the hardware itself.
03explosives expert
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a soldier who works with landmines or other explosives.
n. a military specialist responsible for the placement, maintenance, or detonation of explosive mines.
“The combat miner carefully cleared a path through the dangerous field.”
“The unit included a specialist miner trained to breach fortified walls using controlled explosive charges.”
Teaching tip
In modern military contexts, 'sapper' is often more common, but 'miner' remains technically accurate for this role.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “miner” in context.
Verb
01. employ the miners
“The gold mine continues to employ hundreds of local miners despite the falling price of ore.”
verb + noun
02. rescue the miners
“Emergency crews used a specialized drill to rescue the miners from the deep shaft.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. retired miner
“The local community center often hosts events for retired miners who spent decades in the pits.”
adj + noun
04. trapped miner
“Rescue teams worked around the clock to reach the trapped miners after the tunnel collapsed.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. coal miner
“His grandfather was a coal miner in West Virginia during the Great Depression.”
noun + noun
06. miner strike
“The national miner strike lasted for several months, causing significant energy shortages.”
noun + noun
07. safety of the miners
“The company was criticized for neglecting the safety of the miners in favor of higher profits.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“A gold miner pans for gold in California, 1885.” “How do you persuade millions of small-scale gold miners to stop using the stuff?” “Ghana and Nepal have the highest percentages of women miners.” “Another option is to buy shares in gold miners, such as Fresnillo, whose share price is up 250% so far this year.” Word family
NOUN
Idioms
01. miners' canary
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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