europium

noun

eu·​ro·​pi·​um yu̇-ˈrō-pē-əm How to pronounce europium (audio)
: a metallic chemical element of the rare-earth group that is used especially in television screens and fluorescent lamps see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of europium 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.
The former will create more barium, for example, while the latter creates lots of europium. Jenna Ahart, Quanta Magazine, 2 July 2025 Back then, of course, uses were limited: apart from europium adding vibrancy to L.A. cop procedurals, cerium was used as a glass polishing agent, while lanthanum was—and still is—crucial for oil cracking, or turning crude into gasoline and other lighter fuels. Charlie Campbell, Time, 17 June 2025 Rare earth elements are a set of 17 metallic elements, such as neodymium, europium, and dysprosium. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 The same goes for the use of europium and terbium in lighting applications. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 May 2022 In the last half of the 20th century, europium, with atomic number 63, came in to wide demand for its role as a color-producing phosphor in video screens, including computer monitors and plasma TVs. Stanley Merzman, Discover Magazine, 21 Aug. 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Europa Europe

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of europium was in 1901

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Europium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/europium. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

europium

noun
eu·​ro·​pi·​um yu̇-ˈrō-pē-əm How to pronounce europium (audio)
: a soft rare metallic chemical element see element

Medical Definition

europium

noun
eu·​ro·​pi·​um yu̇-ˈrō-pē-əm How to pronounce europium (audio)
: a bivalent and trivalent metallic element of the rare-earth group found in monazite sand
symbol Eu
see Chemical Elements Table

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