titanium dioxide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, water-insoluble powder, TiO 2 , used chiefly in white pigments, plastics, ceramics, and for delustering synthetic fibers.

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titanium dioxide British  

noun

1. Also called: titanium oxide.   titanic oxide.   titania.  a white insoluble powder occurring naturally as rutile and used chiefly as a pigment of high covering power and durability. Formula: TiO 2

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titanium dioxide Scientific  

1. A white powder used as an opaque white pigment. It occurs naturally as the mineral rutile. Chemical formula: TiO ₂ .

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Etymology

Origin of titanium dioxide

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Sales of titanium dioxide, used in white paint, and related products fell 11% year over year, to $561 million, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or Ebitda, dropped 67% to $23 million.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

The second sees around 90% of its ore volume used for titanium dioxide , crucial for construction, automotive and consumer applications.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026

The retail giant plans to nix ingredients including titanium dioxide, a food coloring, and azodicarbonamide, used to help bread rise consistently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025

The candymaker announced in late May that it would no longer use titanium dioxide, a potentially carcinogenic additive that was banned in the European Union in 2022, to make Skittles in the U.S.

From Salon • Jul. 23, 2025

Mercuric oxide, sulphide and iodide; arsenic trioxide; titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide may be cited as examples.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various