metallurgy

noun

met·​al·​lur·​gy ˈme-tə-ˌlər-jē How to pronounce metallurgy (audio)
especially British mə-ˈta-lə-
: the science and technology of metals
metallurgical
ˌme-tə-ˈlər-ji-kəl How to pronounce metallurgy (audio)
adjective
metallurgically
ˌme-tə-ˈlər-ji-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce metallurgy (audio)
adverb
metallurgist
ˈme-tə-ˌlər-jist How to pronounce metallurgy (audio)
especially British mə-ˈta-lər-
noun

Examples of metallurgy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
North American Indians did not even possess the wheel, metallurgy, or draft animals. — Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026 An ancient civilization in the Nile Valley—known for pyramids, temples, metallurgy, trade that shaped the region—has become known instead for thousands of stories of war and loss. — Janine Di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026 If those constraints are addressed, metallurgy could plausibly return to pre-war levels within a few years, becoming more efficient than the old Soviet-era infrastructure ever was. — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Under the Zia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, China developed advanced metallurgy techniques and, along with them, systems for managing them at scale. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for metallurgy

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin metallurgia, borrowed from Middle Greek metallourgía "mining," from metall- metall- + -ourgia -urgy, after Greek metallourgós "miner"

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metallurgy was in 1665

Phrases Containing metallurgy

Browse Nearby Words

metallurgist
metallurgy
metal man
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Metallurgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metallurgy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

metallurgy

noun
met·​al·​lur·​gy ˈmet-ᵊl-ˌər-jē How to pronounce metallurgy (audio)
: the science of obtaining metals from their ores and preparing them for use
metallurgical
ˌmet-ᵊl-ˈər-ji-kəl How to pronounce metallurgy (audio)
adjective
metallurgist
ˈmet-ᵊl-ˌər-jəst How to pronounce metallurgy (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on metallurgy

Nglish: Translation of metallurgy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about metallurgy

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