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

The 45-year-old firmly believed that his Model T had finally cracked the code for pairing affordability with durability, thanks to a flexible three-point suspension and the use of a new metal alloy called vanadium steel, unusually strong for its weight. —Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026

At the heart of the design is a material called vanadium dioxide (VO₂), a rather strange compound famous for its split personality. —New Atlas, 25 May 2026

The hub pairs 90 vanadium flow batteries with a three-megawatt solar array. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026

Greenland Mines Ltd describes the formation as hosting a significant tonnage of gold, palladium, platinum, vanadium, and gallium. —Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

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

• radium
• stadium
• palladium

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