vanadium
Americannoun
noun
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A soft, bright-white metallic element that occurs naturally in several minerals. It has good structural strength and is used especially to make strong varieties of steel. Atomic number 23; atomic weight 50.942; melting point 1,890°C; boiling point 3,000°C; specific gravity 6.11; valence 2, 3, 4, 5.
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See Periodic Table
Etymology
Origin of vanadium
< New Latin (1830) < Icelandic Vanad ( ís ) epithet of Freya ( Vana, genitive of Vanir Vanir + dís goddess) + New Latin -ium -ium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, the researchers examined sodium vanadium oxide, a sodium-containing material that has been studied for years.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
There is more vanadium in the Earth's crust than lithium, but it is less accessible and more volatile in economic terms.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
A fast increase in manufacturing could be limited by the supply chain for raw materials such as nickel, titanium, cobalt and vanadium, which are only found in a few regions of the world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The most commercially mature flow batteries are based on vanadium ions, which, like lithium, are expensive and hard to source.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 22, 2024
The low-grade ores of the United States range from 1 to 8 per cent of vanadium oxide, the general mean being nearer the lower figure.
From The Economic Aspect of Geology by C. K. (Charles Kenneth) Leith
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