polonium
noun
po·lo·ni·um
pə-ˈlō-nē-əm 
: a radioactive metallic element that has similar chemical properties to tellurium and bismuth, is produced mainly from the radioactive decay of neutron-irradiated bismuth, and emits an alpha particle to form an isotope of lead see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of polonium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Russian operatives poisoned Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium and turned him into a human dirty bomb and polonium was spread all around London at every spot that poor man visited.
—
Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 21 Mar. 2022
Poisons in books, TV and film Novel writers and television and movie screenwriters have exploited numerous poisons in their works, including those that are chemical elements, such as arsenic and polonium, and those derived from animals, such as snake venom and blowfish poison.
—Brad Reisfeld, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023
Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned by polonium.
—NBC News, 14 June 2021
Partners in life and in science, the couple’s fruitful work together produced the discovery of the elements polonium and radium in 1898, as well as radioactivity itself.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2023
In 1911 Curie won her second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for her work with polonium and radium.
—Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
Marie Curie was a Polish scientist who discovered both polonium and radium, and coined the term radioactivity.
—Rebecca Norris, Woman's Day, 27 Jan. 2023
Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, in 1903, and one of a very select few people to earn a second Nobel, in 1911 (for her later discoveries of the elements radium and polonium).
—Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2019
This included traces of dangerous elements such as polonium, radium, and lead-210.
—Justin Klawans, The Week, 17 Oct. 2022
See More
Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 21 Mar. 2022
Poisons in books, TV and film Novel writers and television and movie screenwriters have exploited numerous poisons in their works, including those that are chemical elements, such as arsenic and polonium, and those derived from animals, such as snake venom and blowfish poison.
—Brad Reisfeld, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2023
Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned by polonium.
—NBC News, 14 June 2021
Partners in life and in science, the couple’s fruitful work together produced the discovery of the elements polonium and radium in 1898, as well as radioactivity itself.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2023
In 1911 Curie won her second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry, for her work with polonium and radium.
—Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
Marie Curie was a Polish scientist who discovered both polonium and radium, and coined the term radioactivity.
—Rebecca Norris, Woman's Day, 27 Jan. 2023
Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, in 1903, and one of a very select few people to earn a second Nobel, in 1911 (for her later discoveries of the elements radium and polonium).
—Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2019
This included traces of dangerous elements such as polonium, radium, and lead-210.
—Justin Klawans, The Week, 17 Oct. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polonium.' 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
New Latin, from Medieval Latin Polonia
First Known Use
1898, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near polonium
Cite this Entry
“Polonium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polonium. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
polonium
noun
po·lo·ni·um
pə-ˈlō-nē-əm
: a radioactive metallic element that is found in pitchblende and decays to form lead see element
Medical Definition
polonium
noun
po·lo·ni·um
pə-ˈlō-nē-əm
: a radioactive metallic element that is similar chemically to tellurium and bismuth, occurs especially in pitchblende and radium-lead residues, and emits an alpha particle to form an isotope of lead
—symbol Po
see Chemical Elements Table
More from Merriam-Webster on polonium
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polonium
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share