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

Research published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials in 2017 found that the only way these chemicals could release trace amounts of cadmium into the soil is if the panel were crushed into a powder and then placed in an acidic environment for several weeks. —Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026

Advertisement The ruling also relaxes limits on a number of other pollutants released by burning coal, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel. —Simmone Shah, Time, 20 Feb. 2026

California also enacted a law in October 2025 that requires manufacturers of disposable tampons and pads to measure concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc in their products, and to share those measurements with the state, which can publish them. —Jenni Shearston, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2026

Pay Attention to Heavy Metals Some chocolates contain small amounts of cadmium and lead, and dark chocolate tends to be the bigger offender. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 21 Jan. 2026

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