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

According to the Personal Care Products Council, counterfeit cosmetics can come laced with carcinogens like arsenic, beryllium, and cadmium, as well as dangerous levels of aluminum, mercury, and bacteria. —Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 8 July 2025

They are all painted in a spectrum of colors that seem to have a special glow, perhaps because the base is cadmium yellow. —Tom Teicholz, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Hartley’s favorite color is cadmium red, which is a vivid, opaque red. —David Moin, WWD, 28 Jan. 2025

Peanut Butter Patties had the highest cadmium level, at 42.5 parts per billion, the most lead, at 23.3 parts per billion, and the highest aluminum level at 27.5 parts per billion. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 17 Mar. 2025

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