mercury
noun
mer·cu·ry
ˈmər-kyə-rē 
-k(ə-)rē
plural mercuries
1
a
capitalized
: a Roman god of commerce, eloquence, travel, cunning, and theft who serves as messenger to the other gods compare hermes
b
often capitalized archaic
: a bearer of messages or news or a conductor of travelers
2
[Middle English mercurie, from Medieval Latin mercurius, from Latin, the god]
a
: a silver-white poisonous heavy metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used especially in batteries, in dental amalgam, and in scientific instruments
called also quicksilver
see Chemical Elements Table
b
: the column of mercury in a thermometer or barometer
3
capitalized
: the planet nearest the sun see Planets Table
Examples of mercury in a Sentence
In the summer, the mercury can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Recent Examples on the Web
Heavy metals can accumulate in the liver as the result of dental fillings that have a high level of mercury, and too much can cause toxicity.
—
Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
One employee showed elevated levels of mercury and was treated on scene by paramedics.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
The report found that each year, improperly processed e-waste releases more than 125,000 pounds of mercury alone, imperiling the health of humans and other animals.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
Note the millimeters of mercury, or mmHg, to indicate compression levels.
—Claire Peltier, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Decades of research support safety claims Misinformation about the safety of mercury in vaccines typically centers on concerns of a possible link to autism, something that has been debunked repeatedly.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Sharks accumulate toxins at different rates, with pelagic species expected to have elevated levels of mercury.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
The small village of New Almaden was once a world-famous quicksilver (mercury) mining community.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
Once more the mercury in the District soared into the 70s on Sunday, far exceeding the averages, showing off the mild side of March, and helping to create conditions that seemed indisputably idyllic.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
One employee showed elevated levels of mercury and was treated on scene by paramedics.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
The report found that each year, improperly processed e-waste releases more than 125,000 pounds of mercury alone, imperiling the health of humans and other animals.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
Note the millimeters of mercury, or mmHg, to indicate compression levels.
—Claire Peltier, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Decades of research support safety claims Misinformation about the safety of mercury in vaccines typically centers on concerns of a possible link to autism, something that has been debunked repeatedly.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Sharks accumulate toxins at different rates, with pelagic species expected to have elevated levels of mercury.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
The small village of New Almaden was once a world-famous quicksilver (mercury) mining community.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
Once more the mercury in the District soared into the 70s on Sunday, far exceeding the averages, showing off the mild side of March, and helping to create conditions that seemed indisputably idyllic.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mercury.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Mercury.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mercury. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mercury
noun
mer·cu·ry
ˈmər-kyə-rē
-k(ə-)rē
Medical Definition
mercury
noun
mer·cu·ry
ˈmər-kyə-rē, -k(ə-)rē
plural mercuries
1
: a heavy silver-white poisonous metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and used especially in scientific instruments
—symbol Hg
called also quicksilver
see Chemical Elements Table2
: a pharmaceutical preparation containing mercury or a compound of it
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