antimony

noun

an·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈan-tə-ˌmō-nē 

1

: stibnite

2

: a trivalent and pentavalent metalloid element with atomic number 51 that commonly occurs in a brittle, metallic, silvery white crystalline form and that is used especially in alloys, semiconductors, and flame-retardant substances see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of antimony in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perpetua Resources is set to resurrect an old gold mine in Central Idaho that would supply the Pentagon with weapons-grade antimony. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 12 Feb. 2025

The Chinese Commerce Ministry’s new directive applies to minerals including gallium, germanium, antimony and other materials with potential military applications, the Associated Press reported. —Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024

China, the source of around half the world’s antimony, recently barred exports of the metal to the U.S. in retaliation for the Biden administration’s export controls on China’s tech sector. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 20 Jan. 2025

China’s latest export restrictions came on antimony, a metal essential to various technologies but most notably weapons systems. —John Adams, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English antimonie, from Medieval Latin antimonium

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

antimony

noun

an·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈant-ə-ˌmō-nē 

: a metallic silvery white element that is used especially in alloys and medicine see element

Medical Definition

antimony

noun

an·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈant-ə-ˌmō-nē 

plural antimonies

: a trivalent and pentavalent metalloid element that is commonly metallic silvery white, crystalline, and brittle and is used especially in alloys and semiconductors and in medicine as a constituent of various antiprotozoal agents (as tartar emetic)

—symbol Sb see Chemical Elements Table