palladium

1 of 2

noun (1)

pal·​la·​di·​um pə-ˈlā-dē-əm How to pronounce palladium (audio)
1
capitalized : a statue of Pallas whose preservation was believed to ensure the safety of Troy
2
plural palladia pə-ˈlā-dē-ə How to pronounce palladium (audio) : something that affords effectual protection or security : safeguard sense 2a
… this political persecution being, somehow or other, the grand palladium of our liberties …Washington Irving
… lend authority to the view that the true palladium of every people is its language …Ferdinand Schevill

palladium

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a silver-white ductile malleable metallic element that is used especially in electrical contacts, as a catalyst, and in alloys see Chemical Elements Table
palladous adjective

Did you know?

Pallas Athena was one of the poetical names given to the Greek goddess Athena (although it's no longer clear what Pallas was supposed to mean), and the original palladium was a statue of Athena that was believed to have the power to protect the ancient city of Troy. When an asteroid belt was discovered between Mars and Jupiter, most of the asteroids were named after figures in Greek mythology, and one of the first to be discovered was named Pallas in 1803. In the same year, scientists isolated a new silvery metal element, which they named palladium in honor of the recently discovered asteroid.

Examples of palladium in a Sentence

Noun (1) believes that a vigorously free press is one of our nation's most vital palladia against tyranny
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The scientists developed a mixture of gold, palladium and gallium nitride that triggers a chemical reaction when exposed to sunlight: carbon dioxide in the atmosphere attached itself to methane in the atmosphere, creating methanol. Alex Knapp, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 Commodity traders, particularly those dealing with high-value materials like gold, silver, platinum or palladium in the form of jewelry or bullion, have a responsibility to introduce transparency and drive trust within their industries. Brandon Aversano, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024 Silver and palladium advanced, while platinum was little-changed. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2024 Thieves target the car part because it can be stripped for precious metals like palladium and rhodium, which can be melted down and sold at high value. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for palladium 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'palladium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek palladion, from Pallad-, Pallas

Noun (2)

New Latin, from Pallad-, Pallas, an asteroid

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of palladium was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near palladium

Cite this Entry

“Palladium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palladium. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

palladium

noun
pal·​la·​di·​um
pə-ˈlād-ē-əm
: a silver-white metallic element that is used especially in alloys see element

Medical Definition

palladium

noun
pal·​la·​di·​um pə-ˈlād-ē-əm How to pronounce palladium (audio)
: a silver-white ductile malleable metallic element of the platinum group that is used especially in electrical contacts, as a catalyst, and in alloys
symbol Pd
see Chemical Elements Table

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