hafnium

noun

haf·​ni·​um ˈhaf-nē-əm 

: a metallic element that occurs especially in zirconium minerals and is used in control rods for nuclear reactors see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of hafnium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the 16 February 2024 issue of ACS Energy Letters, Boettcher’s team reported the hafnium oxide layer dramatically slowed membrane degradation. —science.org, 23 Jan. 2025

Greenland is also known to have significant lithium, hafnium, uranium and gold deposits. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025

Our experiment uses hafnium monofluoride molecules because hafnium, with 72 protons in its nucleus, is one of the heaviest metals in the periodic table that isn't radioactive. —Luke Caldwell, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024

It’s constructed from alternating thin films of hafnium oxide (HfO2) and glass sitting on top of a silver reflective layer. —Sid Assawaworrarit, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Hafnia (Copenhagen), Denmark

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hafnium

noun

haf·​ni·​um ˈhaf-nē-əm 

: a gray metallic element that is useful because of its ready absorption of neutrons see element

Medical Definition

hafnium

noun

haf·​ni·​um ˈhaf-nē-əm 

: a metallic element that resembles zirconium chemically, occurs in zirconium minerals, and readily absorbs neutrons

—symbol Hf see Chemical Elements Table