rare-earth element

[ rair-urth ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any of a group of closely related metallic elements, comprising the lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, that are chemically similar by virtue of having the same number of valence electrons.

rare-earth element

/ râr′ûrth′ /

1. See lanthanide

Word History and Origins

Origin of rare-earth element¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

That includes radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium and potassium, as well as rare-earth elements.

From Science News

In the coming weeks, the administration will continue to review America’s manufacturing abilities for pharmaceuticals, high-capacity batteries, and rare-earth elements that are found in everything from lasers to electric vehicles.

From Vox

It doesn’t help that when the US extracts rare-earth elements from mines in California and Colorado, more often than not they’re shipped to China to be made into American products, Vekasi told me.

From Vox