aluminum

noun

alu·​mi·​num ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm 

: a silver-white metallic chemical element with atomic number 13 that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation

—often used before another noun

aluminum foil

The sweet spot, the point in a bat where vibration supposedly is least, is said to be two times larger on an aluminum bat than on a wood one.

—Hank Hersch

Before he evacuated, Mr. Gonzales tied the boat down with four gigantic ropes and all the storm could do was knock it off the construction blocks. He slowly climbs a battered aluminum ladder propped up on the port side.

—Ken Wells

see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of aluminum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to its one-off paintwork, the vehicle was outfitted with a matching red-leather interior—dubbed Silver Arrow—with contrasting yellow stitching, and features widened front seats and special Alutex aluminum trim as opposed to carbon fiber. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2026

An aluminum frame serves as the chassis – one that Norton claims is a class-first feature. — New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2026

That's on top of the fact that it's got an aerospace-grade aluminum frame combined with Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the exterior, so durability appears to be top-tier on the Signature 27. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026

In front of thousands of fans, a lit-up, smoke- and firework-spewing flying saucer known as the Mothership—a 1,500-pound aluminum-and-glass craft featuring a 241-pound landing ladder—descended onto the stage and out popped Clinton. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alumine "alumina" (borrowed from French, borrowed from Latin alūmin-, alūmen alum entry 1) + -um (in the names of other metals, as platinum entry 1, tantalum)

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing aluminum

• aluminum foil
• aluminum oxide
• aluminum sulfate

Rhymes for aluminum

• aluminium

Kids Definition

aluminum

noun

alu·​mi·​num ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm 

: a silver-white malleable light element that conducts electricity and heat well, is highly resistant to oxidation, and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust see element

Medical Definition

aluminum

noun

alu·​mi·​num ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm 

: a silver-white malleable ductile light trivalent metallic chemical element with atomic number 13 that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation

—symbol Al see Chemical Elements Table