antimony

noun

an·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈan-tə-ˌmō-nē 

1

: stibnite

2

: a trivalent and pentavalent metalloid element with atomic number 51 that commonly occurs in a brittle, metallic, silvery white crystalline form and that is used especially in alloys, semiconductors, and flame-retardant substances see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of antimony in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mining restarted there in the 1930s, when tungsten and antimony were crucial to the military for armored vehicles and ammunition in World War II. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025

Critical minerals like antimony are also used for military equipment and defense systems. —John Towfighi, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025

This pigment was rediscovered in the form of Naples yellow, an oxide of lead and antimony found in the mines. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 11 Dec. 2024

In 2024, the US relied on China for over 50% of its imports of some critical materials, such as yttrium, bismuth, antimony, arsenic, and rare earths, according to the USGS. —John Liu, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English antimonie, from Medieval Latin antimonium

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for antimony

• abalone
• acrimony
• alimony
• ceremony
• chalcedony
• cicerone
• cosmogony
• eurozone
• lithopone
• macaroni
• matrimony
• naloxone

Kids Definition

antimony

noun

an·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈant-ə-ˌmō-nē 

: a metallic silvery white element that is used especially in alloys and medicine see element

Medical Definition

antimony

noun

an·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈant-ə-ˌmō-nē 

plural antimonies

: a trivalent and pentavalent metalloid element that is commonly metallic silvery white, crystalline, and brittle and is used especially in alloys and semiconductors and in medicine as a constituent of various antiprotozoal agents (as tartar emetic)

—symbol Sb see Chemical Elements Table