vanadium

noun

va·​na·​di·​um və-ˈnā-dē-əm 

: a silvery-grayish malleable ductile metallic element obtained from minerals and used especially to form alloys and in catalysts see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of vanadium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pure corundum is colorless, but trace elements like iron, titanium, chromium, gallium and vanadium give it colors like blue, yellow, red, green, pink, or purple. —David Bressan, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

The agency also noted vanadium’s crucial role in strengthening alloys in both the commercial and military aviation sectors. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 23 May 2025

The result was that the vanadium pentoxide had been reduced into vanadium oxide and had taken the form of crystallized ribbons, and the graphene oxide had been reduced to graphene. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2013

The Velvet-Wood mine, set to be reopened by Canadian company Anfield Energy, contains both uranium and vanadium, a mineral used to strengthen steel equipment in cars, building and nuclear reactors. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

latinization of Swedish Vanadin, from Old Norse Vanadīs, epithet of the goddess Freya (from vana-, stem of vanr, one of the Vanir + dís "woman, female supernatural being") + Swedish -in -in entry 1

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vanadium

• vanadium pentoxide

Rhymes for vanadium

• palladium
• radium
• stadium

Kids Definition

vanadium

noun

va·​na·​di·​um və-ˈnād-ē-əm 

: a grayish metallic element found combined in minerals and used especially to form alloys (as of steel) see element

Medical Definition

vanadium

noun

va·​na·​di·​um və-ˈnād-ē-əm 

: a grayish malleable ductile polyvalent metallic element found combined in minerals and used especially to form alloys (as vanadium steel)

—symbol V see Chemical Elements Table