: a metallic chemical element of the rare-earth group with atomic number 68 that is used especially in lasers, infrared light filters, and optical fibers see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of erbium in a Sentence
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Advertisement The ministry also announced on Thursday curbs on more rare earths and related products, including holmium, europium, ytterbium, thulium, and erbium, effective Nov. 8.
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Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Oct. 2025
In its most recent move, China added five rare-earth elements – holmium, erbium, thulium, europium, ytterbium, and related magnets and materials – to its existing control list, requiring export licenses.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
The new qubits rely on erbium, a rare-earth element valued for its clean optical properties and strong magnetic interactions.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Rare earth materials found in Ukraine include lanthanum and cerium, which are used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, which is used in wind energy and batteries; and erbium and yttrium, which are used in lasers, Reuters reported.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 16 Feb. 2025
Other treatments for acne scars include in-office treatments like chemical peels, which work for light and mild acne scars, as well as laser treatments like erbium laser resurfacing or radiofrequency microneedling, and even filler.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
The groups started with gases of dysprosium and erbium atoms, which are intrinsically magnetic enough to act like little bar magnets.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
The extra proton changes the erbium atom to thulium and releases energy.
—Bayarbadrakh Baramsai, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Feb. 2022
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Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Oct. 2025
In its most recent move, China added five rare-earth elements – holmium, erbium, thulium, europium, ytterbium, and related magnets and materials – to its existing control list, requiring export licenses.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
The new qubits rely on erbium, a rare-earth element valued for its clean optical properties and strong magnetic interactions.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Rare earth materials found in Ukraine include lanthanum and cerium, which are used in TVs and lighting; neodymium, which is used in wind energy and batteries; and erbium and yttrium, which are used in lasers, Reuters reported.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 16 Feb. 2025
Other treatments for acne scars include in-office treatments like chemical peels, which work for light and mild acne scars, as well as laser treatments like erbium laser resurfacing or radiofrequency microneedling, and even filler.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
The groups started with gases of dysprosium and erbium atoms, which are intrinsically magnetic enough to act like little bar magnets.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
The extra proton changes the erbium atom to thulium and releases energy.
—Bayarbadrakh Baramsai, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Erbium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erbium. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
erbium
noun
er·bi·um
ˈər-bē-əm 
: a metallic element of the rare-earth group that occurs with yttrium
—symbol Er
see Chemical Elements Table
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