sodium

noun

so·​di·​um ˈsō-dē-əm How to pronounce sodium (audio)
1
: a silver-white soft waxy ductile element of the alkali metal group with atomic number 11 that occurs abundantly in nature in combined form and is very active chemically see Chemical Elements Table
2
: salt sense 1a, sodium chloride
not used technically
reduced her sodium intake
a low-sodium diet

Examples of sodium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To enhance detection, the plants were treated with sodium tungstate, which amplifies the light emitted by dysprosium. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026 Cade realized the players were sweating out electrolytes — another word for minerals like sodium, potassium and magnesium — and upsetting the body’s chemical balance. Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Cade realized the players were sweating out electrolytes – another word for minerals like sodium, potassium and magnesium – and upsetting the body’s chemical balance. ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that use flammable liquid electrolytes – typically organic carbonates such as ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and diethyl carbonate – this new design is sodium-ion based. New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sodium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from English soda

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sodium was in 1808

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sodium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sodium. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

sodium

noun
so·​di·​um ˈsōd-ē-əm How to pronounce sodium (audio)
: a soft waxy silver-white metallic element that is chemically very active and is common in nature in combined form see element

Medical Definition

sodium

noun
so·​di·​um ˈsōd-ē-əm How to pronounce sodium (audio)
: a silver white soft waxy ductile element of the alkali metal group that occurs abundantly in nature in combined form and is very active chemically
symbol Na
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on sodium

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster