grit

Grit is a term with several distinct meanings across different fields and contexts. In everyday language and material science, grit refers to small, hard particles used for abrasive purposes. Such grit particles are embedded in grinding wheels, sanding papers, and blasting media to wear away or smooth surfaces. Grit sizes are standardized to indicate particle size, with coarse grits removing material quickly and fine grits producing a smoother finish.

Geology and lithology use the term to describe a coarse, quartz-rich sediment or sandstone. Grit (or gritstone) describes rocks in which visible quartz grains dominate the texture; the term has historical usage in some regions as a descriptive name for certain sandstones and their uses as building or paving material.

In psychology, grit denotes a personality trait defined by perseverance and sustained passion for long-term goals. The concept was popularized by researchers such as Angela Duckworth, who investigated its relationship to achievement beyond talent or intelligence. Findings are mixed: grit shows modest predictive value for performance in some contexts, and its overlap with conscientiousness or other traits is widely noted; critics caution against overinterpretation and emphasize measurement and situational factors.

In idiomatic English, grit appears in phrases like "grit your teeth," indicating determination or resolve. The related plural noun grit(s) also appears in American cuisine as "grits," a dish made from ground corn, unrelated to abrasive material but sharing the same root.