: a bluish-white metallic element with atomic number 30 that is ductile when pure but in the commercial form is brittle at ordinary temperatures and becomes ductile on slight heating, occurs abundantly in minerals, is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals, and is used especially in alloys and as a protective coating in galvanizing iron and steel
—often used before another noun
a zinc coating
zinc additives
see Chemical Elements Table
: to treat or coat with zinc : galvanize
Examples of zinc in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
The basin also supports agricultural needs, such as fruit and dairy, and is home to several minerals including coal, zinc, and marble.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026
About 70% of new silver comes out of the ground as a byproduct of copper, lead and zinc operations, which means silver output depends more on demand for those metals than on the price of silver itself.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe also confirmed to the outlet that zinc phosphide was detected in the watermelon sample collected during the investigation, but not in any other food items seized from the home.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
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Noun
That water is heated by magma below and shoots back upward, bringing with it precious minerals such as copper, zinc and gold, along with the iron and sulfur found in the snail’s shell.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
The basin also supports agricultural needs, such as fruit and dairy, and is home to several minerals including coal, zinc, and marble.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026
About 70% of new silver comes out of the ground as a byproduct of copper, lead and zinc operations, which means silver output depends more on demand for those metals than on the price of silver itself.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe also confirmed to the outlet that zinc phosphide was detected in the watermelon sample collected during the investigation, but not in any other food items seized from the home.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for zinc
Cite this Entry
“Zinc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinc. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
zinc
noun
: a bluish-white metallic chemical element with atomic number 30 that is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals
—symbol Zn
see Chemical Elements Table
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