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

: rare earth element

Examples of rare earth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Julie Klinger is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, specializing in the politics and economics of rare earth elements. — Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

The company also has bigger ambitions beyond rare earth processing. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026

Only when the United States retracted those measures and agreed to further talks, in June, did China agree to resume exports of rare earths and magnets. — Gloria Xiong, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rare earth

• afterbirth
• berth
• birth
• dearth
• firth
• girth
• mirth
• worth
• childbirth
• rebirth
• stillbirth
• tamworth

Medical Definition

rare earth

noun

ˌrer-ˈərth 

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

: rare earth element