rare earth

noun

1

: any of a group of similar oxides of metals or a mixture of such oxides occurring together in widely distributed but relatively scarce minerals

2

: rare earth element

Examples of rare earth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But China may source it in a different way: The element is a waste product of China’s huge rare earth mining industry. —Emily Waltz, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2024

The rare earth elements used in permanent magnets in wind turbine generators are difficult to retrieve for reuse. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

These materials include aluminum, beryllium, cobalt, gallium, germanium, graphite, lithium, manganese, platinum, rare earth elements, titanium, and tungsten. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024

The main rare earth mining area in China is one of the most polluted places on Earth. —Vince Beiser, TIME, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

rare earth

noun

ˌrer-ˈərth 

1

: any of a group of similar oxides of metals or a mixture of such oxides occurring together in widely distributed but relatively scarce minerals

2

: rare earth element