: a bluish-white metallic element with atomic number 30 that is ductile when pure but in the commercial form is brittle at ordinary temperatures and becomes ductile on slight heating, occurs abundantly in minerals, is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals, and is used especially in alloys and as a protective coating in galvanizing iron and steel
—often used before another noun
a zinc coating
zinc additives
see Chemical Elements Table
: to treat or coat with zinc : galvanize
Examples of zinc in a Sentence
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Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
One study found that zinc significantly reduced fatigue in elderly people, but more research is needed to track zinc's effect on the energy levels of people of all ages.
—Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 28 Jan. 2026
But the commercially-available 400 x 400-micrometer unit inside the MIT design is bioresorbable, with a zinc-cellulose antenna that humans can digest.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
For decades the capital had worked like a slowly exploding atom bomb, inhaling poor Filipinos from the provinces and spitting them into distant suburbs, transforming rural barangays into slums of concrete and zinc.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
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Noun
The crock is salt-glazed, giving it a coarser texture than a smoother zinc glaze.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026
One study found that zinc significantly reduced fatigue in elderly people, but more research is needed to track zinc's effect on the energy levels of people of all ages.
—Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 28 Jan. 2026
But the commercially-available 400 x 400-micrometer unit inside the MIT design is bioresorbable, with a zinc-cellulose antenna that humans can digest.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
For decades the capital had worked like a slowly exploding atom bomb, inhaling poor Filipinos from the provinces and spitting them into distant suburbs, transforming rural barangays into slums of concrete and zinc.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zinc
Cite this Entry
“Zinc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinc. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
zinc
noun
: a bluish-white metallic chemical element with atomic number 30 that is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals
—symbol Zn
see Chemical Elements Table
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