palladium

1 of 2

noun (1)

pal·​la·​di·​um pə-ˈlā-dē-əm How to pronounce palladium (audio)
1
capitalized : a statue of Pallas whose preservation was believed to ensure the safety of Troy
2
plural palladia pə-ˈlā-dē-ə How to pronounce palladium (audio) : something that affords effectual protection or security : safeguard sense 2a
… this political persecution being, somehow or other, the grand palladium of our liberties …Washington Irving
… lend authority to the view that the true palladium of every people is its language …Ferdinand Schevill

palladium

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a silver-white ductile malleable metallic element that is used especially in electrical contacts, as a catalyst, and in alloys see Chemical Elements Table
palladous adjective

Did you know?

Pallas Athena was one of the poetical names given to the Greek goddess Athena (although it's no longer clear what Pallas was supposed to mean), and the original palladium was a statue of Athena that was believed to have the power to protect the ancient city of Troy. When an asteroid belt was discovered between Mars and Jupiter, most of the asteroids were named after figures in Greek mythology, and one of the first to be discovered was named Pallas in 1803. In the same year, scientists isolated a new silvery metal element, which they named palladium in honor of the recently discovered asteroid.

Examples of palladium in a Sentence

Noun (1) believes that a vigorously free press is one of our nation's most vital palladia against tyranny
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
His watch, however, was a 42 mm sporty Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional chronograph in diamonds and the Swiss watchmaker’s propriety Canopus Gold, a special blend of 18-karat white gold combined with platinum, rhodium, and palladium. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2025 Mutual funds Similar to ETFs, mutual funds based on precious metals can buy multiple precious metal products such as gold, silver, palladium and platinum. Victor Rosario, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025 Photograph: Omega With more than a passing nod to the previous 300M 007 Edition launched in 2020 for No Time to Die, this 42-mm piece showcases Omega's proprietary Bronze Gold alloy, which is actually made of palladium, silver, and 37.5 percent gold. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 22 Feb. 2025 For years, the unit was busy investigating cases of people stealing catalytic converters from cars for their metal components like platinum, palladium and rhodium. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for palladium

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek palladion, from Pallad-, Pallas

Noun (2)

New Latin, from Pallad-, Pallas, an asteroid

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of palladium was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Palladium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palladium. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

palladium

noun
pal·​la·​di·​um
pə-ˈlād-ē-əm
: a silver-white metallic element that is used especially in alloys see element

Medical Definition

palladium

noun
pal·​la·​di·​um pə-ˈlād-ē-əm How to pronounce palladium (audio)
: a silver-white ductile malleable metallic element of the platinum group that is used especially in electrical contacts, as a catalyst, and in alloys
symbol Pd
see Chemical Elements Table

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