rare earth

noun

1
: any of a group of similar oxides of metals or a mixture of such oxides occurring together in widely distributed but relatively scarce minerals
2

Examples of rare earth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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China is the world’s leading producer of rare earths, used to make magnets essential to the automotive, electronics and defence industries. Afp, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025 With demand for rare earth elements such as lithium, petroleum, cobalt, and copper set to jump nearly fourfold by 2030 (and already outpacing global production), extraction alone won’t suffice. Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 For a remarkable 19 out of the 20 most important strategic minerals the IEA tracks closely—including gallium, graphite and rare earths—China is the leading refiner, with an average market share of 70%. Fatih Birol, Time, 10 Sep. 2025 China now dominates the supply chain for battery materials, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese, as well as the rare earth minerals used in electric motors. Jeremy J. Michalek, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rare earth

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rare earth was in 1875

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Cite this Entry

“Rare earth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rare%20earth. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

rare earth

noun
1
: any of a group of similar oxides of metals or a mixture of such oxides occurring together in widely distributed but relatively scarce minerals
2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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