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

China controls more than 90% of the global output of refined rare earths, and that abundance has become one of its most potent tools in trade discussions with the US. —Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025

And the African Union’s Minerals Development Center stated recently that new huge specialist rare earth mines are due to come online by 2029 in Tanzania, Angola, Malawi and South Africa, and potentially yield almost 10% of the world’s supply. —Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025

But what kind of concessions were made, especially on these rare earth minerals? —ABC News, 26 Oct. 2025

In addition to rare earths, Trump is also seeking to convince Xi to resume Chinese purchases of American soybeans, crack down on fentanyl trafficking and potentially apply pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. —Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 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