periodic table

noun

: an arrangement of chemical elements based on the periodic law
periodic table table

Examples of periodic table in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Both metals are among the least reactive in the periodic table and have a variety of uses in different fields, including aesthetic and scientific applications. Victor Rosario, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025 Lead, number 82 on the periodic table, was a miracle metal for thousands of years. Daniel Stone, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2025 Now, the investment in lithium extraction is spilling over to include rubidium, another element on the leftmost column of the periodic table. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2025 Many inorganic chemists focus on the transition metals – the elements in the middle of the periodic table. Daniel Freedman, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for periodic table

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of periodic table was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Periodic table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodic%20table. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

periodic table

noun
: an arrangement of chemical elements in order of atomic number that groups elements with common characteristics in the same area of the table

Medical Definition

periodic table

noun
: an arrangement of chemical elements based on the periodic law

More from Merriam-Webster on periodic table

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!