samarium

noun

sa·​mar·​i·​um sə-ˈmer-ē-əm 

: a silvery-white lustrous metallic element of the rare-earth group that is used especially in permanent magnets see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of samarium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new circuits will add roughly 20 tons of terbium, 120 tons of dysprosium, 140 tons of samarium, 20 tons of europium, and 140 tons of gadolinium annually, with terbium and dysprosium online by the end of 2027 and the rest by the end of 2028. — David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Solvay then restarted work and has added other rare earths this year, including samarium. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Production of samarium, europium and gadolinium oxides is scheduled to follow in 2028. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026

As of last year, for example, China produced the world’s entire supply of samarium, an obscure rare-earth metal that is an essential component of magnets that help guide Tomahawk missiles and start the engines in F-35 fighter jets. — Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from French samarskite

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for samarium

• cerium
• aquarium
• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• solarium
• zoarium
• armamentarium
• honorarium
• planetarium
• sanitarium

Kids Definition

samarium

noun

sa·​mar·​i·​um sə-ˈmer-ē-əm 

-ˈmar-

: a pale gray shiny metallic element see element

Medical Definition

samarium

noun

sa·​mar·​i·​um sə-ˈmer-ē-əm, -ˈmar- 

: a pale gray lustrous metallic element used especially in alloys that form permanent magnets

—symbol Sm see Chemical Elements Table