lithium

noun

lith·​i·​um ˈli-thē-əm How to pronounce lithium (audio)
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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Know More Tanzania has large offshore gas resources and deposits of minerals needed for the energy transition and digital infrastructure — such as copper, lithium, and cobalt — as well as precious metals and stones, including gold and diamonds. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026 The second, in Spring Hills, Tennessee, opened in early 2024 and now produces lithium-ion phosphate cells for battery energy storage. — John Voelcker, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026 And the tiny battery pack – modeled on the e-C3's 30-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry – would translate to a highway range of under 100 miles at standard US interstate speeds. — New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026 In laboratory tests, batteries made with the new material matched the initial performance of conventional lithium-ion cells and retained their capacity longer after hundreds to thousands of charging cycles. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lithium

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin (in German context) Lithium, taken as the metallic component of the alkali Lithion, probably based on Greek litheîon, neuter of litheîos "of stone," derivative of líthos "stone, rock," of obscure origin

Note: The alkali was discovered and analyzed, apparently in late 1817, by the Swedish chemist Johan August Arfwedson (1792-1841), who at the time was working in the Stockholm laboratory of J.J. berzelius. Berzelius reported on the discovery and named the components in letters written to the editors of learned publications, as J. S. C. Schweiggers' Journal für Chemie und Physik. Schweiggers published the letter, dated January 27, 1818, as "Ein neues mineralisches Alkali und ein Neues Metall" ("a new mineral alkali and a new metal") in vol. 21 of the journal (pp. 44-48). According to Berzelius, "we have named it [the new alkali] Lithion, thereby alluding to its first discovery in the mineral kingdom, as the two others [the alkali metals sodium and potassium] were first discovered in organic substances [literally, "organic nature"]. Its radical will then be named Lithium." ("Wir haben es Lithion genannt, um dadurch auf seine erste Entdeckung im Mineralreich anzuspielen, da die beiden anderen erst in der organischen Natur entdeckt wurden. Sein Radical wird dann Lithium genannt werden.")

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lithium was in 1818

Phrases Containing lithium

Rhymes for lithium

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Browse Nearby Words

lithite
lithium
lithium aluminum hydride
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Cite this Entry

“Lithium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lithium. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lithium

noun
lith·​i·​um ˈlith-ē-əm How to pronounce lithium (audio)
: a soft silver-white element that is the lightest metal known see element

Medical Definition

lithium

noun
lith·​i·​um ˈlith-ē-əm How to pronounce lithium (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on lithium

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lithium

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