# cadmium

/ˈkædmiəm/ (US) · /kˈædmiəm/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cadmium
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a soft, silver-white metal that is used to make bright red and orange paints. It is also used in batteries and some types of metal alloys.

For teachers: a soft, bluish-white, lustrous metallic element that is toxic and used in various industrial applications. It is a heavy metal with a low melting point and is often used in pigments, batteries, and coatings.

## Examples

- Cadmium is used to make the bright red paint on the car.
- The factory was fined for releasing cadmium into the local river, which is harmful to both plants and fish.
- While cadmium provides excellent corrosion resistance when alloyed with copper, its environmental impact has led to a global shift toward safer alternatives in modern manufacturing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.