rare earth

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. the oxide of any of the rare-earth elements contained in various minerals.

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rare earth British  

noun

1. any oxide of a lanthanide

2. Also called: rare-earth element.  another name for lanthanide

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Etymology

Origin of rare earth

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Workers load tonnes of rare earth minerals into bags ready for shipping at a refinery in eastern Malaysia, fuelling the global pushback against China's grip on the critical sector.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

“Serra Verde’s Pela Ema mine is a one-of-a-kind asset and the only producer outside Asia capable of supplying all four magnetic rare earths at scale, together with other vital rare earth elements, such as Yttrium.”

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

“The Western rare earth sector stands at a critical inflection point, as governments and strategic industries urgently seek reliable sources of critical rare earths — particularly scarce heavy rare earths.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

The National Park Service and an Australian company are at odds over an old Mojave Desert gold mine, where the company is seeking to extract rare earth minerals.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

In 1797 Ekeberg showed that gadolinite contained another rare earth, which was given the name yttria.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various