: a metallic element with atomic number 39 usually included in the rare-earth group that occurs usually with other rare earth elements in minerals and is used especially in phosphors, YAG lasers, alloys, and treatments for certain cancers see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of yttrium in a Sentence
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The analyst added that these permanent magnets use elements such as samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron molecules or yttrium, a rare earth metal used to prevent corrosion.
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Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
Rare earths include 17 metallic elements in the periodic table made up of scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
These include lithium, cobalt, copper, and nickel (often called critical minerals, essential for rechargeable batteries), as well as rare-earth minerals such as yttrium, scandium, and lanthanides (integral components of green infrastructure).
—Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Interest in rare earths—comprising 15 lanthanides and scandium and yttrium, which are critical for modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence—is rising amid trade disputes between the U.S. and China.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
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Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
Rare earths include 17 metallic elements in the periodic table made up of scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
These include lithium, cobalt, copper, and nickel (often called critical minerals, essential for rechargeable batteries), as well as rare-earth minerals such as yttrium, scandium, and lanthanides (integral components of green infrastructure).
—Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Interest in rare earths—comprising 15 lanthanides and scandium and yttrium, which are critical for modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence—is rising amid trade disputes between the U.S. and China.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yttrium
Cite this Entry
“Yttrium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yttrium. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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Medical Definition
yttrium
noun
yt·tri·um
ˈi-trē-əm 
: a trivalent metallic element usually included among the rare earth elements which it resembles chemically and with which it occurs in minerals
—symbol Y
see Chemical Elements Table
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