smelter

noun

smelt·​er ˈsmel-tər 

: one that smelts:

a

: a worker who smelts ore

b

: an owner or operator of a smeltery

c

or smeltery

ˈsmel-t(ə-)rē 

: an establishment for smelting

Examples of smelter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

China has sourced nickel from Indonesia for decades, but the relationship deepened after Jakarta banned raw ore exports in 2020, drawing a surge of Chinese investment into smelters. —ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

Kentucky lost a multibillion-dollar aluminum smelter project and 1,000 jobs to Oklahoma, despite state efforts. —Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Feb. 2026

At the same time, management recognized that specific assets, including major smelter restarts, will impact near-term earnings before becoming accretive later in the cycle. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Construction of the smelter will start by year-end, with production to begin by the end of the decade, the companies said, adding that the project would create 1,000 permanent jobs at the site and support 4,000 construction jobs. —Reuters, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for smelter

• belter
• melter
• shelter
• skelter
• spelter
• welter

Kids Definition

smelter

noun

smelt·​er ˈsmel-tər 

1

: a person whose work or business is smelting

2

or smeltery

-tə-rē

: an establishment for smelting