rare earth

noun

1

: any of a group of similar oxides of metals or a mixture of such oxides occurring together in widely distributed but relatively scarce minerals

2

: rare earth element

Examples of rare earth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Recognizing the complexities inherent to the critical materials market, encompassing base metals like nickel, lithium, chromium and magnesium alongside rare earths and specialty minerals such as cobalt and germanium, there is a pressing imperative for greater transparency. —Sahit Muja, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The Pentagon bought a $400 million equity stake in rare earth miner MP Materials. —Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025

Exploiting mines needed for rare earth minerals could also be complicated. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2025

In July, the Defense Department became the largest shareholder in MP Materials, a mining company that specializes in rare earth minerals. —Tobias Burns, The Hill, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rare earth

• afterbirth
• berth
• birth
• dearth
• firth
• girth
• mirth
• worth
• childbirth
• rebirth
• stillbirth
• tamworth

Medical Definition

rare earth

noun

ˌrer-ˈərth 

1

: any of a group of similar oxides of metals or a mixture of such oxides occurring together in widely distributed but relatively scarce minerals

2

: rare earth element