aluminum

noun, often attributive alu·mi·num \ ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of aluminum

: a bluish silver-white light malleable ductile trivalent metallic element that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust where it always occurs in combination — see Chemical Elements Table

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Recent Examples of aluminum from the Web

Trump in March imposed a 25 percent import tax on steel and a 10 percent import tax on aluminum on most countries and extended them in June to Mexico, Canada and the European Union.

— katherine blunt, Houston Chronicle, "Baytown steel plant denied steel tariff exemption," 12 July 2018
Trump recently imposed steep tariffs on aluminum and steel imported from Canada, Mexico and Europe in his bid to level the trade playing field and reduce trade deficits between the U.S. and its trade partners.

— author: darlene superville, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump threatens Harley-Davidson with severe taxes if it shifts operations overseas," 26 June 2018
Trump, who campaigned on decreasing the U.S. trade deficit and boosting American manufacturing, levied a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum in March.

— alex soderstrom, ajc, "Georgia farmers face uncertainty as crop tariffs loom," 25 June 2018
Other companies heavily reliant on aluminum and steel fell as well.

— NBC News, "Harley-Davidson to move some production overseas to offset tariffs," 25 June 2018
Specifically, the president slapped a 25 percent tariff on steel imports — and a 10 percent duty on aluminum — in apparent defiance of WTO rules.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "As Europe’s Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect, Trump Threatens Retaliation," 22 June 2018
Trump's 25 percent tariffs on steel and 10 percent tariffs on aluminum on Canada, Mexico and European Union countries have resulted in countries putting similar tariffs on bourbon, according to a June 11 Courier Journal article.

— chris mayhew, Cincinnati.com, "Despite trade tariffs, Newport's New Riff Distilling ready to unveil bourbon," 18 June 2018
But now suppliers based in those countries face a 25 percent tax on steel and a 10 percent tax on aluminum imported into the United States.

— dylan jackson, miamiherald, "South Florida home prices and rents are already expensive. And they could soon get worse.," 13 June 2018
His administration announced substantial tariff hikes on aluminum and steel imports from the European Union, Mexico, and Canada in the weeks leading to the meeting — a position that has increased the prospects of a trade war.

— tara golshan, Vox, "John McCain to US allies: “Americans stand with you, even if our president doesn’t”," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aluminum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of aluminum

New Latin, from alumina

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1810

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

ALUMINUM Defined for English Language Learners

aluminum

noun

Definition of aluminum for English Language Learners

: a silver metal that is strong and light and that is used for making many products

ALUMINUM Defined for Kids

aluminum

noun alu·mi·num \ ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm \

Definition of aluminum for Students

: a silver-white light metallic chemical element that is easily worked, conducts electricity well, resists weathering, and is the most plentiful metal in the earth's crust

Medical Dictionary

aluminum

noun, often attributive alu·mi·num \ ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm \

medical Definition of aluminum

: a bluish silver-white malleable ductile light trivalent metallic element that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust where it always occurs in combination —symbol Al — see Chemical Elements Table