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Definition of palladium

palladium

/pəˈleɪdiəm/
pal · la · di · um
Plural:palladiums
•
Adjective:palladic
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palladium Lexical Profile

palladium Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A rare, silvery-white metallic chemical element of the platinum group (symbol Pd, atomic number 46), widely used in catalytic converters, electronics, and fine jewelry.

Example

"Automobile manufacturers rely heavily on palladium to reduce harmful emissions in exhaust systems."

2

Anything believed to provide protection, security, or a guarantee for the preservation of a community or institution.

Example

"An independent judiciary is widely regarded as the palladium of civil liberties."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for palladium

• Nearby Words

palisades
palish
pall
palladium
pallas viper
pallbearer
pallet

Word Origin & Etymology

The protective safeguard sense comes via Latin from Ancient Greek 'palladion', referring to the sacred statue of the goddess Pallas Athena upon which the safety of Troy was believed to depend. The chemical element was named in 1803 by English chemist William Hyde Wollaston after the newly discovered asteroid Pallas.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Palladium. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/palladium
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