neodymium

American  

[nee-oh-dim-ee-uhm] / ˌni oʊˈdɪm i əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare-earth, metallic, trivalent element occurring with cerium and other rare-earth metals, and having rose-colored to violet-colored salts. Nd; 144.24; 60; 6.9 at 20°C.

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neodymium British  

/ ˌniːəʊˈdɪmɪəm /

noun

1. a toxic silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series, occurring principally in monazite: used in colouring glass. Symbol: Nd; atomic no: 60; atomic wt: 144.24; valency: 3; relative density: 6.80 and 7.00 (depending on allotrope); melting pt: 1024°C; boiling pt: 3127°C

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neodymium Scientific  

/ nē′ō-dĭm′ē-əm /

1. A shiny, silvery metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used to make glass for welders' goggles and purple glass for lasers. Atomic number 60; atomic weight 144.24; melting point 1,024°C; boiling point 3,027°C; specific gravity 6.80 or 7.004 (depending on allotropic form); valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of neodymium

From New Latin, dating back to 1880–85; neo-, didymium

Example Sentences

Four elements account for most of the sector's economic value: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

In the U.S., rare earths—including neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium—are listed on the USGS’s critical minerals list for 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

China mines three-fifths of the world’s rare earths—metals such as neodymium and dysprosium—and has more than 90% of the capacity for refining them, according to the International Energy Agency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

So, it has surpluses of lighter rare earths such as neodymium, but lacks extractable quantities of heavier elements like dysprosium and terbium, which are critical for many high-performance magnets.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

It was formerly supposed to be an element, but has since been found to consist of two simpler elementary substances, neodymium and praseodymium.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section D and E by Project Gutenberg