aluminum

American

[uh-loo-muh-nuhm] / əˈlu mə nəm /

British, aluminium

noun

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.

adjective

of, relating to, or containing aluminum.

an aluminum frying pan.

aluminum Scientific

/ ə-lo̅o̅′mə-nəm /

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.
See Periodic Table

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rise in aluminum prices on March 30, to a four-year high, after two Gulf smelters were hit by Iran.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Metal-intensive industrial equipment and electrical grid equipment will pay a 15% rate through 2027, and products made abroad but “entirely with American steel, aluminum, and copper” will be subject to 10% tariffs.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Most aluminum shipments from countries that ring the Persian Gulf have been curtailed since the fighting started in late February.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Altered rates on finished products made with steel, aluminum and copper would simplify compliance, but could effectively raise costs for many imports.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Then they turned on a heat lamp, and watched as the jar with the aluminum foil lid got hotter than the one with no lid on it.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023