# potassium

/pəˈtæsiəm/ (US) · /pətˈæsiəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/potassium
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. chemical element

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a soft, silver-colored metal that reacts very quickly with water and air.

For teachers: a soft, silvery-white alkali metal, atomic number 19, that is highly reactive and never found in its pure state in nature.

- In chemistry class, the teacher showed us how potassium reacts when dropped into water.
- Potassium is so reactive that it must be stored under mineral oil to prevent it from oxidizing in the air.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the element in general.

### 2. dietary mineral

noun · CEFR B2

a mineral found in food that helps your heart and muscles work correctly.

For teachers: an essential dietary mineral and electrolyte that facilitates nerve impulses and maintains cellular fluid balance.

- Bananas and potatoes are excellent sources of potassium for a healthy diet.
- The patient was advised to increase their intake of potassium to help manage their blood pressure naturally.

Usage: Uncountable in a nutritional context.

## Examples

- Bananas are a great source of potassium.
- The doctor recommended increasing her potassium intake to help manage her blood pressure naturally.
- In its pure elemental form, potassium reacts violently with water, but as a dietary mineral, it is vital for the electrochemical signaling between neurons.

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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.