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• palladium
  palladium

  noun

  a rare metallic element of the platinum group, silver-white, ductile and malleable, harder and fusing more readily than platinum: used chiefly as a catalyst and in dental and other alloys. Pd; 106.4; 46; 12 at 20°C.
• Palladium
  Palladium

  noun

  Also Palladion a statue of Athena, especially one on the citadel of Troy on which the safety of the city was supposed to depend.

palladium

¹ American  

[puh-ley-dee-uhm] / pəˈleɪ di əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare metallic element of the platinum group, silver-white, ductile and malleable, harder and fusing more readily than platinum: used chiefly as a catalyst and in dental and other alloys. Pd; 106.4; 46; 12 at 20°C.

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Palladium ² American  

[puh-ley-dee-uhm] / pəˈleɪ di əm /

noun

Palladia plural

1. Also Palladion a statue of Athena, especially one on the citadel of Troy on which the safety of the city was supposed to depend.

2. (usually lowercase) anything believed to provide protection or safety; safeguard.

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palladium ¹ British  

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. something believed to ensure protection; safeguard

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Palladium ² British  

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. a statue of Pallas Athena, esp the one upon which the safety of Troy depended

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palladium ³ British  

/ pəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. a ductile malleable silvery-white element of the platinum metal group occurring principally in nickel-bearing ores: used as a hydrogenation catalyst and, alloyed with gold, in jewellery. Symbol: Pd; atomic no: 46; atomic wt: 106.42; valency: 2, 3, or 4; relative density: 1202; melting pt: 1555°C; boiling pt: 2964°C

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palladium Scientific  

/ pə-lā′dē-əm /

1. A malleable, ductile, grayish-white metallic element that occurs naturally with platinum. It is used as a catalyst in hydrogenation and in alloys for making electrical contacts and jewelry. Atomic number 46; atomic weight 106.4; melting point 1,552°C; boiling point 3,140°C; specific gravity 12.02 (20°C); valence 2, 3, 4.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of palladium¹

Special use of Palladium; named (1803) after the asteroid Pallas, then newly discovered; see -ium

Origin of Palladium²

< Latin Palladium < Greek Palládion, noun use of neuter of Palládios of Pallas, equivalent to Pallad- (stem of Pallás ) Pallas + -ios adj. suffix

Explanation

Palladium is an extremely valuable precious metal. Closely related to platinum, palladium is also silvery-white and shiny. When William Hyde Wollaston discovered palladium in 1803, he named it after one of the largest known asteroids, Pallas. Earlier, the word had been used to mean "a source of protection," inspired by the Greek goddess Athena, who was commonly referred to as Pallas. The precious metal shares chemical properties with many others, and it's used to clean the exhaust from cars, as well as in jewelry and electronics.

Example Sentences

After celebrating the release with a show at the Palladium opening for Dethklok, Xcomm is ready for a different type of summer vacation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Bands like Health can sell out the Palladium, electronic body music thrives on dance floors and Nine Inch Noize was a favorite at Coachella.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Allen, who also begins her three-night run of gigs at the London Palladium theatre on Friday, said: "I'm so pleased to make this special painting available for everyone to see."

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Now, she has made her full live comeback at the London Palladium, before a trip to perform at Sir Elton John's Oscars party and play a headline concert in LA later this month.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Pallas Athena had been exceedingly angry, Sinon said, at the theft of the Palladium, and the Greeks in terror had sent to the oracle to ask how they could appease her.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton