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

Niron claims that its Iron Nitride technology can produce permanent magnets without rare earth materials–which would eliminate the problem in a world scrambling to move manufacturing to domestic soil. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Falling behind Gavin Kenneally, whose company makes industrial and military robot dogs, is working to find a new source of rare earth metals, of which China has nearly a global monopoly. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026

In the battle over critical minerals, Brazil dominates global production of niobium, a metal used in high-strength steel production, and has major reserves of rare earths, but China dominates rare-earth processing. — Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026

Tariffs, Iran, and rare earth minerals were among the issues that dominated their summit. — Patrick McHenry, STAT, 30 Sep. 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