# barium

/ˈbɛɹiəm/ (US) · /bˈeəɹiəm/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/barium
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a soft, silver-white metal that is used in medicine to help doctors see your stomach and intestines on an X-ray. It is also used in some types of glass and paint.

For teachers: a soft, silvery-white alkaline earth metal with the atomic number 56. In medical contexts, it refers to a suspension of barium sulfate used as a contrast agent for radiographic imaging of the gastrointestinal tract.

## Examples

- The doctor asked me to drink the barium before the X-ray.
- During the upper gastrointestinal series, the patient ingests a barium solution to allow the radiologist to track the movement of food through the stomach.
- While elemental barium is highly reactive and toxic, its sulfate compound is inert and non-toxic, making it the preferred substance for diagnostic imaging procedures that require a dense, opaque contrast medium.

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