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

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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

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Compare meaning

How does aluminum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• alumina vs. aluminum

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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

Lu of Australian National University said China successfully tempered excess capacity in its steel and aluminum industries in the 2010s, but cars were a harder nut to crack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

During the 20th century, the U.S. led the world in aluminum production.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Electricity accounts for about 40% of the cost of making aluminum.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

“We always call aluminum ‘solid electricity,’” said Jérôme Pécresse, who runs Rio’s aluminum, lithium and Canadian businesses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

O’Dell had delivered a thin aluminum sheet he’d found in the garbage, so I used some tin shears to cut some rough triangles out of it for fins.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

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