magnesium

noun

mag·​ne·​sium mag-ˈnē-zē-əm 

-zhəm

: a silver-white malleable ductile light metallic element that occurs abundantly in nature and is used in metallurgical and chemical processes, in photography, signaling, and pyrotechnics because of the intense white light it produces on burning, and in construction especially in the form of light alloys see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of magnesium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Make a yogurt parfait with coconut yogurt, berries, and nut-free granola. Guacamole and plantain chips: Avocados provide nutrients like healthy fats, magnesium, and vitamin E. Pair guacamole with crunchy, gluten-free plantain chips. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Apr. 2025

Ensuring your diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and proteins will help support nail growth (these foods contain nutrients needed for nail growth, like amino acids, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin A, and vitamin B6, among others, explains Dr. Patel). —Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2025

The beverage menu features low and no-alcohol offerings like TRIP Mindful Blend, designed to promote sleep and wellness, combining lion's mane, magnesium, ashwagandha and L-theanine. —Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Instead its body functions as a simple type of battery called a galvanic cell—the two electrodes, made of different combinations of magnesium, zinc and molybdenum, react with the naturally occurring electrolytes in bodily fluids to produce an electric current. —Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from magnesia

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing magnesium

• magnesium carbonate
• magnesium chloride
• magnesium hydroxide
• magnesium oxide
• magnesium sulfate

Rhymes for magnesium

• caesium
• cesium
• trapezium

Kids Definition

magnesium

noun

mag·​ne·​sium mag-ˈnē-zē-əm 

-zhəm

: a silver-white metallic element that is light and easily worked, burns with a dazzling light, and is used in making lightweight alloys see element

Medical Definition

magnesium

noun

mag·​ne·​sium mag-ˈnē-zē-əm  -zhəm 

: a silver-white light malleable ductile metallic element that occurs abundantly in nature (as in bones and seeds and in the form of chlorophyll in the green parts of plants) and is used in metallurgical and chemical processes, in photography, in signaling, and in the manufacture of pyrotechnics because of the intense white light it produces on burning, and in construction especially in the form of light alloys

—symbol Mg see Chemical Elements Table