metallurgy

American  

[met-l-ur-jee, muh-tal-er-jee] / ˈmɛt lˌɜr dʒi, məˈtæl ər dʒi /

noun

1. the technique or science of working or heating metals so as to give them certain desired shapes or properties.

2. the technique or science of making and compounding alloys.

3. the technique or science of separating metals from their ores.

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metallurgy British  

/ mɛˈtælədʒɪ, ˈmɛtəˌlɜːdʒɪst, ˈmɛtəˌlɜːdʒɪ, mɛˈtælədʒɪst /

noun

1. the scientific study of the extraction, refining, alloying, and fabrication of metals and of their structure and properties

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metallurgy Scientific  

/ mĕt′l-ûr′jē /

1. The scientific study and technology of extracting metals from ores, refining them for use, and creating alloys and useful objects from them.

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Other Word Forms

• metallurgic adjective
• metallurgical adjective
• metallurgically adverb
• metallurgist noun
• nonmetallurgic adjective
• nonmetallurgical adjective
• nonmetallurgically adverb
• unmetallurgic adjective
• unmetallurgical adjective
• unmetallurgically adverb

Etymology

Origin of metallurgy

1695–1705; < New Latin metallurgia < Greek metallourg ( ós ) working in metals, mining + New Latin -ia -ia. See metall-, -urgy

Explanation

Metallurgy is the science of metals. If you know a lot about the chemical makeup of metallic elements, as well as how to produce and purify metal, you're a metallurgy expert. In the 17th century, metallurgy was defined as "the science of smelting," or heating ore to extract metal. The word derives from Greek roots metallon, "metal," and ergon, "work." Working with metal, and having a deep understanding of its chemical properties, including how it combines with other metals to form alloys, is what metallurgy is all about.

Example Sentences

The new metallurgy breakthrough avoids the massive energy and chemicals consumed by traditional smelting and refining methods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

The seemingly limitless power of the steam engine helped change that view, making fortunes in mining, metallurgy, brewing, and, especially, textiles.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

This advanced steel, a direct evolution of Iron Age metallurgy, required sophisticated knowledge and precise high-temperature processes.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2025

"The process is called sintering, which aggregates fine particles together into a more solid state. It is similar to powder metallurgy in the manufacturing of ceramics," continues Tsumori.

From Science Daily • Nov. 19, 2024

Bones of domestic animals were important raw materials for artifacts of Neolithic peoples before the development of metallurgy.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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