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

Construction and farm equipment in Illinois, aluminum and pipe products in New York, and iron and steel products in Ohio are among the goods targeted by Canada’s counter-tariffs, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Find insight on the U.S. clean-energy industry, Voestalpine, Chinese and European aluminum output and more in the latest Market Talks covering Basic Materials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

As one of only a few materials on the federal critical materials list, there is bipartisan agreement that aluminum matters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Using soft X-rays, the researchers examined interactions between aluminum and polyethylene at both the atomic and electronic levels.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

She looked at the aluminum bracelet on her arm.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

Related Words

• bottle
• bucket
• canister
• jar
• package