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

Old cars and appliances, batteries, and gasoline vapors release cadmium, lead and zinc into the air and soil, the heavy metals and toxic particulates making their way towards dozens of schools, health care centers and my neighbors’ homes. —Brian Beveridge, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025

He is best known for being the lead singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister. —Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025

The 2025 Video Music Awards paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne on Sunday night, a little over a month after the heavy metal pioneer died at age 76. —Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025

Additionally, there will be a tribute to heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

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