heavy metal

noun

1

: a metal of high specific gravity

2

: energetic and highly amplified electronic rock music having a hard beat

Borrowing elements of everything from grunge to progressive rock, from gospel to heavy metal …

—David Okamoto

Examples of heavy metal in a Sentence

He listens to heavy metal.

lead, gold, and other heavy metals

Recent Examples on the Web

Dissolved solids discharged from geothermal systems include sulfur, chlorides, silica compounds, vanadium, arsenic, mercury, nickel and other toxic heavy metals. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

Their work is set against the backdrop of a heavy metal music festival that takes place on the reservation. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026

Key Takeaways Sweet potato skin can be contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals. —Eleesha Lockett, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026

Electric utilities used to dump the ash — which contains heavy metals like arsenic and mercury — into unlined ponds, allowing the waste to seep into groundwater or nearby waterways and eventually make its way into drinking water. —Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heavy metal

• diacetyl
• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• mettle
• nettle
• petal
• setal
• settle
• gunmetal
• nonmetal
• resettle