vanadium

noun

va·​na·​di·​um və-ˈnā-dē-əm 

: a silvery-grayish malleable ductile metallic element obtained from minerals and used especially to form alloys and in catalysts see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of vanadium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Silver is indispensable for technologies such as solar panels, while vanadium, another metal, is playing a quieter yet equally important role in the energy storage landscape. —Sahit Muja, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

The vanadium redox flow battery is not a phrase that comes tripping off the tongue. —IEEE Spectrum, 10 Mar. 2013

Prudent Energy's Li observed that vanadium is readily available; it is used in steel manufacturing and can be recovered from ash. —IEEE Spectrum, 10 Mar. 2013

Patrick Ruch, a colleague of Michel's at IBM in Zurich, and others are examining vanadium as a potential electrolyte for a redox flow battery. —IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2013

Word History

Etymology

latinization of Swedish Vanadin, from Old Norse Vanadīs, epithet of the goddess Freya (from vana-, stem of vanr, one of the Vanir + dís "woman, female supernatural being") + Swedish -in -in entry 1

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vanadium

• vanadium pentoxide

Rhymes for vanadium

• palladium
• radium
• stadium

Kids Definition

vanadium

noun

va·​na·​di·​um və-ˈnād-ē-əm 

: a grayish metallic element found combined in minerals and used especially to form alloys (as of steel) see element

Medical Definition

vanadium

noun

va·​na·​di·​um və-ˈnād-ē-əm 

: a grayish malleable ductile polyvalent metallic element found combined in minerals and used especially to form alloys (as vanadium steel)

—symbol V see Chemical Elements Table