cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a toxic bluish-white malleable ductile divalent metallic element used especially in batteries, pigments, and protective platings see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of cadmium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Overall, 43% of the products studied exceeded acceptable levels of lead and 35% exceeded acceptable cadmium levels. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 31 July 2024

Most notably, the powders also showed high levels of lead and cadmium. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

The researchers also found metals in the smoke, including lead, chromium, cadmium and arsenic, which are known to affect several body systems, such as the brain, liver, kidney, skin and lungs. —Luke Montrose, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025

Many protein powders on the market may contain dangerous amounts of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. Clean Label Project, a consumer product safety nonprofit, tested 160 products from 70 top-selling supplement brands. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin cadmia zinc oxide, from Greek kadmeia, literally, Theban (earth), from feminine of kadmeios Theban, from Kadmos; from the occurrence of its ores together with zinc oxide

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cadmium

• cadmium sulfide
• cadmium telluride

Kids Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white metallic element used especially in protective coatings see element

Medical Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white malleable ductile toxic bivalent metallic element used especially in protective platings and in bearing metals

—symbol Cd see Chemical Elements Table