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

Pay Attention to Heavy Metals Some chocolate contains small amounts of cadmium and lead—and dark chocolate tends to be the bigger offender. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 26 May 2025

However, the Indian basmati and Italian Arborio varieties contained the highest average levels of cadmium. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 15 May 2025

That was in reference to the photovoltaic panels used to capture solar energy, which often contain heavy metals like zinc, nickel, lead, cadmium and mercury. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025

In those cookies, four out of five heavy metals tested for were present in all the cookie samples, and most of the 25 cookie samples tested had all five: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025

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