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

Trump is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday for talks covering a wide-ranging agenda, with Iran war, trade, rare earth export controls, and Taiwan among the central issues. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 12 May 2026

China retaliated with counter tariffs and other measures, such as restrictions on rare earth exports. —ABC News, 11 May 2026

However ties have improved recently as the White House looks to reassert US regional supremacy and increase its access to rare earths. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 8 May 2026

Xi’s government has been progressively cranking up the use of alternative tools, from rare earths to technology. —Bloomberg, Fortune, 4 May 2026

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