cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a toxic bluish-white malleable ductile divalent metallic element used especially in batteries, pigments, and protective platings see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of cadmium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lead was found in 99%, cadmium in 96% and arsenic in 94% of cat food samples across 62 brands. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

The filament bulb’s lurid orange-yellow was different — not less orange or yellow, but somehow also whiter, richer, rounder, as if Sorolla had worked in some of his cadmium hues. — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

More than 1,000 harmful substances have been found in e-waste or produced when it is improperly recycled, including lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic chemicals, according to the World Health Organization. — Aniruddha Ghosal, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

The set includes 2-quart and 3-quart sauce pans constructed with an aluminum base and coated in a ceramic finish that’s PFOA-, PTFE-, PFOS-, lead-, and cadmium-free. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin cadmia zinc oxide, from Greek kadmeia, literally, Theban (earth), from feminine of kadmeios Theban, from Kadmos; from the occurrence of its ores together with zinc oxide

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cadmium

• cadmium sulfide
• cadmium telluride

Kids Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white metallic element used especially in protective coatings see element

Medical Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white malleable ductile toxic bivalent metallic element used especially in protective platings and in bearing metals

—symbol Cd see Chemical Elements Table