neodymium

noun

neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdi-mē-əm 

: a silver-white to yellow metallic element of the rare-earth group that is used especially in magnets and lasers see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of neodymium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the US push for domestic mining and processing is a challenge to China’s dominance over 90 percent of global rare earth ore processing and critical materials like neodymium magnets, which secure its geopolitical leverage. —Michaela Rychetska and Aissa Dearing, JSTOR Daily, 13 Feb. 2025

Where ever a factory is, making neodymium magnets requires supplies of rare-earth metal, and that nearly always leads straight back to China. —IEEE Spectrum, 8 Feb. 2025

Here, the specific rare earth elements being sought, for example neodymium and praseodymium, are separated from the other rare earths. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2024

The neodymium magnets are a little bigger than a button magnet that might be used to hold a photo to a refrigerator door. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

neo- + (di)dymium, after German Neodym

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neodymium

• praseodymium

Kids Definition

neodymium

noun

neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdim-ē-əm 

: a silver-white to yellow metallic chemical element see element

Medical Definition

neodymium

noun

neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdim-ē-əm 

: a yellow metallic element of the rare-earth group

—symbol Nd see Chemical Elements Table