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Synonyms

heavy metal

American  

noun

  1. any metal with a specific gravity of 5.0 or greater, especially one that is toxic to organisms, as lead, mercury, copper, and cadmium.

  2. aggressive and heavily amplified rock music, commonly performed by groups that wear spectacular or bizarre costumes.

heavy metal British  

noun

    1. a type of rock music characterized by a strong beat and amplified instrumental effects, sometimes with violent, or nihilistic lyrics

    2. ( as modifier )

      a heavy-metal band

  2. a metal with a high specific gravity

  3. military large guns or shot

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of heavy metal

1860–65, for literal sense

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.

Heavy metal might have eventually come to exist without Ozzy, but it would’ve looked and sounded very different.

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2025

Heavy metal star Ozzy Osbourne reveals the date for his final show, which will also reunite the founding members of Black Sabbath after 20 years.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2025

"Heavy metal exposure has been linked to degenerative heart disease, immunodeficiency and increased parasite infestations, among other disease risks."

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

Heavy metal band Slipknot have announced that their drummer Jay Weinberg has left.

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2023

Heavy metal doors open and lock behind us as the policeman leads me through a maze of rooms and out past a tall, spiky gate.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.