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

Brewing tea may naturally adsorb heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, according to the study published Monday in the journal ACS Food Science & Technology. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025

Scientists from Northwestern University, who conducted the study, found that tea leaves naturally absorb heavy metals, filtering dangerous contaminants from water like lead and cadmium. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025

Some bodybuilding supplements have been found to be contaminated with prescription drugs, anabolic steroids and toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium, according to a recent report by the Clean Label Project. —Katie Camero, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025

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