niobium
noun
ni·o·bi·um
nī-ˈō-bē-əm 
: a lustrous light gray ductile metallic element that resembles tantalum chemically and is used in alloys see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of niobium in a Sentence
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According to the European Union, Greenland has great untapped potential for 25 of the 34 minerals identified in the Union’s official list of raw materials, including rare earth elements, graphite, platinum group metals, and niobium.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 8 May 2025
The mines produce coltan — short for columbite-tantalite — an ore from which the metals tantalum and niobium are extracted.
—David Yusufu Kibingila, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
And Greenland is home to minerals like lithium, niobium, and zirconium, all of which are useful for the production of batteries, electronics, and electric cars.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 25 Mar. 2025
Many of the products and processes needed to decarbonize economies use scarce minerals, such as lithium in electric batteries and niobium and neodymium in the construction of wind turbines, as well as more familiar metals, such as aluminum and copper in cables that carry power.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
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IEEE Spectrum, 8 May 2025
The mines produce coltan — short for columbite-tantalite — an ore from which the metals tantalum and niobium are extracted.
—David Yusufu Kibingila, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
And Greenland is home to minerals like lithium, niobium, and zirconium, all of which are useful for the production of batteries, electronics, and electric cars.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 25 Mar. 2025
Many of the products and processes needed to decarbonize economies use scarce minerals, such as lithium in electric batteries and niobium and neodymium in the construction of wind turbines, as well as more familiar metals, such as aluminum and copper in cables that carry power.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for niobium
Cite this Entry
“Niobium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/niobium. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
niobium
noun
ni·o·bi·um
nī-ˈō-bē-əm
: a shiny gray metallic element used in alloys see element
Medical Definition
niobium
noun
ni·o·bi·um
nī-ˈō-bē-əm
: a lustrous light gray ductile metallic element that resembles tantalum chemically and is used in alloys
—symbol Nb
called also columbium
see Chemical Elements TableLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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