aluminum

American  

[uh-loo-muh-nuhm] / əˈlu mə nəm /

British, aluminium

noun

1. Chemistry. a silver-white metallic element, light in weight, ductile, malleable, and not readily corroded or tarnished, occurring combined in nature in igneous rock, shale, clay, and most soil: used in alloys and for lightweight utensils, castings, airplane parts, etc. alum.; Al; 26.98; 13; 2.70 at 20°C.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or containing aluminum.

   an aluminum frying pan.

aluminum Scientific  

/ ə-lo̅o̅′mə-nəm /

1. Symbol Al A lightweight, silvery-white metallic element that is ductile, is found chiefly in bauxite, and is a good conductor of electricity. It is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust and is used to make a wide variety of products from soda cans to airplane components. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.9815; melting point 660.3°C (1,220.5°F); boiling point 2,519°C; specific gravity 2.70; valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

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Other Word Forms

• aluminic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of aluminum

1812; from New Latin; aluminum was an alteration, by Humphry Davy, of alumium, which was first proposed; the chiefly British variant aluminium was formed after other metals in -ium. See alumina, -ium

Compare meaning

How does aluminum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• alumina vs. aluminum

Explanation

Aluminum is a relatively lightweight type of silver-colored metal. Most soda cans are made out of aluminum. Aluminum is the most abundant metal in Earth's crust. Because it is lightweight, durable, and highly pliable, it is used in everything from airplane parts and foil to bicycles and high-voltage power lines. Its name is derived from alumina (aluminum oxide), which traces back to the Latin word alumen, meaning "bitter salt."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aluminum

Taxing raw aluminum while ignoring derivative products only encourages the downstream fabrication industry to offshore.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

The tariff costs are wrapped into the Midwest Premium price, an aluminum market-clearing price for every ton of aluminum sold in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Canada has a dairy quota, and the U.S. is reluctant to buy Canadian aluminum even though Quebec can produce it inexpensively using hydroelectric power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

At issue was a reduction in the tariff on Canadian primary aluminum — a concession also expected for fabricated aluminum products.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

He disconnected the braided flexline and removed the aluminum spiders from the burners and put one of them in the pocket of his coat.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Related Words

• bottle
• bucket
• canister
• jar
• package