samarium
noun
sa·mar·i·um
sə-ˈmer-ē-əm 
: a silvery-white lustrous metallic element of the rare-earth group that is used especially in permanent magnets see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of samarium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The analyst added that these permanent magnets use elements such as samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron molecules or yttrium, a rare earth metal used to prevent corrosion.
—
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The team tested this on neodymium iron boron and samarium cobalt magnet waste.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
Rare earth elements are 17 chemically very similar elements, including neodymium, dysprosium, samarium and others.
—Peter Mullner, The Conversation, 3 July 2025
To establish the age of these rocks, the researchers combined petrology and geochemistry and applied two radiometric dating methods using different isotopes of the elements samarium and neodymium.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Instead, for the new study, O’Neil turned to the rare earth element samarium, which decays into the element neodymium.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
The data extraction for these rocks focused on the isotopes of two particular elements — samarium and neodymium.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2025
Ars Video Rare but not irreplaceable The export controls China announced earlier this month cover samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium—seven elements that belong to what is known as the rare earth family.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2025
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Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The team tested this on neodymium iron boron and samarium cobalt magnet waste.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
Rare earth elements are 17 chemically very similar elements, including neodymium, dysprosium, samarium and others.
—Peter Mullner, The Conversation, 3 July 2025
To establish the age of these rocks, the researchers combined petrology and geochemistry and applied two radiometric dating methods using different isotopes of the elements samarium and neodymium.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Instead, for the new study, O’Neil turned to the rare earth element samarium, which decays into the element neodymium.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
The data extraction for these rocks focused on the isotopes of two particular elements — samarium and neodymium.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2025
Ars Video Rare but not irreplaceable The export controls China announced earlier this month cover samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium—seven elements that belong to what is known as the rare earth family.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Samarium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samarium. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
samarium
noun
sa·mar·i·um
sə-ˈmer-ē-əm
-ˈmar-
: a pale gray shiny metallic element see element
Medical Definition
samarium
noun
sa·mar·i·um
sə-ˈmer-ē-əm, -ˈmar-
: a pale gray lustrous metallic element used especially in alloys that form permanent magnets
—symbol Sm
see Chemical Elements Table
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