smelter

noun

smelt·​er ˈsmel-tər How to pronounce smelter (audio)
: one that smelts:
a
: a worker who smelts ore
b
: an owner or operator of a smeltery
c
or smeltery
ˈsmel-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce smelter (audio)
: an establishment for smelting

Examples of smelter 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.
The global aluminum producer in July signed a $5 billion-plus deal to buy assets, including the Hillside aluminum smelter in South Africa. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Without proper treatment, high-arsenic copper concentrate faces heavy smelter discounts or becomes unsellable. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 Indonesia imposed a ban on nickel ore exports to encourage smelters to move refining operations to the country; the country is now pushing to attract more of the EV value chain, including car and battery manufacturing. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 In working to raise its limited manufacturing capacity, Indonesia has a strong ally in China, which makes 60% of the world's aluminum but is keen to reduce pollution and emissions from smelters on its own shores. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smelter

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smelter was in the 15th century

Rhymes for smelter

See All Rhymes for smelter

Browse Nearby Words

smelt
smelter
smelterman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smelter. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

smelter

noun
smelt·​er ˈsmel-tər How to pronounce smelter (audio)
1
: a person whose work or business is smelting
2
or smeltery
-tə-rē
 : an establishment for smelting
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All