1
: the quality or state of being hard
2
a
: the cohesion of the particles on the surface of a mineral as determined by its capacity to scratch another or be itself scratched compare mohs' scale
b
: resistance of metal to indentation under a static load or to scratching
Examples of hardness in a Sentence
the hardness of a diamond
The wood's hardness makes it suitable for carving.
Recent Examples on the Web
Minerals like calcium and magnesium can cling to the surface over time, especially in areas with high water hardness.
—
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 July 2025
Generally speaking, high-quality Western knives have 59-62 HRC, a measurement of the hardness of materials, whereas Japanese knives’ HRC ranges from 60 to 65.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
The hardness enables the blades to be sharpened at a much steeper angle than Western knives.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Barnaby is working with a team on improving radiation hardness in FinFETs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardness
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Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 July 2025
Generally speaking, high-quality Western knives have 59-62 HRC, a measurement of the hardness of materials, whereas Japanese knives’ HRC ranges from 60 to 65.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
The hardness enables the blades to be sharpened at a much steeper angle than Western knives.
—Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Barnaby is working with a team on improving radiation hardness in FinFETs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardness
Cite this Entry
“Hardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardness. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hardness
noun
hard·ness
ˈhärd-nəs 
1
: the quality or state of being hard
2
: the ability of a substance (as a mineral) to scratch another substance or be itself scratched
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