nickel

noun

nick·el | \ ˈni-kəl

variants: or less commonly nickle

Definition of nickel

1 : a silver-white hard malleable ductile metallic element capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion that is used chiefly in alloys and as a catalyst — see Chemical Elements Table

2a(1) : the U.S. 5-cent piece regularly containing 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper

(2) : the Canadian 5-cent piece

b : five cents

3 slang : a packet containing five dollars worth of an illicit drug (such as marijuana)

— called also nickel bag

4 : a pass defense in football that employs five defensive backs

Examples of nickel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They are coated with 67 unique layers of nickel-rich steels to ensure that the first cut is as sharp as one made 100 years down the line. — Popular Mechanics, "These Laser-Sharp Japanese Knives Are a Kitchen Staple," 14 Mar. 2019 The chain is stapled together with a nickel bind, though each sleeve is made from a single strand folded up and down the arm. — Amanda Brooks, Vogue, "The Magical Making of Paco Rabanne’s 144-Hour Crystal Dress," 12 Mar. 2019 Sunblock lotions have clear usage guidelines that are harder to replicate with a spray bottle: Adults should use at least 1 ounce every 2 hours — about a shot-glass-size amount, plus a nickel-sized dollop for the face alone. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "How to Use Spray Sunscreen the Right Way, According to Dermatologists," 15 Feb. 2019 The pieces come in a matte black or nickel plated finish and feature subtle decorative touches. — Jessica Dailey, Good Housekeeping, "Wall Storage," 11 Feb. 2019 Seattle mostly just stayed in a nickel defense and had Bobby Wagner and Barkevious Mingo as the two linebackers once Wright departed on Sunday, and the Seahawks could again go with that alignment. — Bob Condotta, The Seattle Times, "Seahawks Tuesday injury report: K.J. Wright again out but Chris Carson and D.J. Fluker are full go," 13 Nov. 2018 No one on the roster has as much speed as second-round pick Donte Jackson, the former LSU sprinter who plays both nickel and outside corner. — Joseph Person, charlotteobserver, "Minicamp is over, but 4 big Panthers position battles must be settled in Spartanburg," 15 June 2018 Hidden Need: Inside linebacker Fangio plays nickel, almost never dime. — Andy Benoit, SI.com, "NFL Draft Needs: All 32 Teams," 25 Apr. 2018 The Bengals spend the majority of plays in the nickel defense – not the old 4-3 base. — Paul Dehner Jr., Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Bengals 2018 NFL Draft strategy: Should it be the next Geno or next Peko?," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nickel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

9 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for nickel

The first known use of nickel was in 1755

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More Definitions for nickel

nickel

noun

English Language Learners Definition of nickel

: a hard silver-white metal

: a U.S. or Canadian coin that is worth five cents

See the full definition for nickel in the English Language Learners Dictionary

nickel

noun

nick·el | \ ˈni-kəl

Kids Definition of nickel

1 : a hard silvery white metallic chemical element that can be highly polished, resists weathering, and is used in alloys

2 : a United States coin worth five cents

nickel

noun

nick·el | \ ˈnik-əl

Medical Definition of nickel

: a silver-white hard malleable ductile metallic element capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion that is used chiefly in alloys and as a catalyst —symbol Ni — see Chemical Elements Table