# tailings

/ˈteɪɫɪŋz/ (US) · /tˈeɪlɪŋz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tailings
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

the waste material that is left over after the valuable parts of a mineral or ore have been removed. It usually looks like a pile of crushed rock or mud and is stored in large ponds.

For teachers: the residue of ore that remains after the economically valuable metals or minerals have been extracted through processing. Typically stored in large impoundments, these materials often contain chemical reagents or heavy metals that require long-term environmental management.

## Examples

- The mining company built a dam to hold the tailings.
- Environmental scientists monitored the local river for contamination after a leak was discovered in the gold mine's tailings pond.
- The collapse of the tailings dam resulted in a catastrophic release of toxic sludge, devastating the downstream ecosystem and prompting a nationwide review of mining safety protocols.

## Synonyms

residue, waste

## Usage notes

- Always used in the plural form; takes a plural verb.

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