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

Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury were all found in protein powders studied by the Clean Label Project. —April Rubin, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025

Classified as a human carcinogen, cadmium has been linked to kidney and bone disease, as well as cancer, according to the World Health Organization. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2024

Compared with participants with the least urinary cadmium, the calcification levels of those with the most urinary cadmium were 51% higher at the beginning of the study and 75% higher over the 10-year period, the authors found. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024

In June 2010, officials discovered the glassware's designs contained toxic amounts of cadmium. —John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2024

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