lithium
noun
lith·i·um
ˈli-thē-əm 
1
: a chemical element of the alkali metal group that is the lightest metal known and that is used especially in alloys and glass, in mechanical lubricants, and in storage batteries see Chemical Elements Table
2
: a salt of lithium (such as lithium carbonate) used in psychiatric medicine
Examples of lithium in a Sentence
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Demand for lithium and cobalt, two elements critical to batteries for mobile devices and electric vehicles, is expected to double over the next five years, according to the USGS’s first World Minerals Outlook, released March 11.
—
Dipka Bhambhani, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Canada has rich stores of lithium, cobalt, and nickel, among other resources, and had previously worked with the U.S. government to create a North American supply chain for batteries and other clean energy technologies.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
For critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite, the United States developed the Minerals Security Partnership to pool resources with the European Union, Japan, Korea, and other like-minded countries to incentivize mining and processing outside China.
—Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2025
Chile is a major U.S. supplier of lithium, a major component for batteries in electric vehicles.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025
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Dipka Bhambhani, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Canada has rich stores of lithium, cobalt, and nickel, among other resources, and had previously worked with the U.S. government to create a North American supply chain for batteries and other clean energy technologies.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
For critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite, the United States developed the Minerals Security Partnership to pool resources with the European Union, Japan, Korea, and other like-minded countries to incentivize mining and processing outside China.
—Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2025
Chile is a major U.S. supplier of lithium, a major component for batteries in electric vehicles.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lithium
Cite this Entry
“Lithium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lithium. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lithium
noun
lith·i·um
ˈlith-ē-əm
: a soft silver-white element that is the lightest metal known see element
Medical Definition
lithium
noun
lith·i·um
ˈlith-ē-əm
1
: a soft silver-white element of the alkali metal group that is the lightest metal known and that is used in chemical synthesis and in storage batteries
—symbol Li
see Chemical Elements Table
2
: a lithium salt and especially lithium carbonate used in psychiatric medicine
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