nickel

noun nick·el \ˈni-kəl\

: a hard silver-white metal

: a U.S. or Canadian coin that is worth five cents

Full Definition of NICKEL

: a silver-white hard malleable ductile metallic element capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion that is used chiefly in alloys and as a catalyst — see element table

a (1) : the United States 5-cent piece regularly containing 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper (2) : the Canadian 5-cent piece

b : five cents

slang : a packet containing five dollars worth of an illicit drug (as marijuana) —called also nickel bag

: a pass defense in football that employs five defensive backs

See nickel defined for English-language learners

See nickel defined for kids

Variants of NICKEL

nick·el also nick·le \ˈni-kəl\

Origin of NICKEL

probably from Swedish nickel, from German Kupfernickel niccolite (mineral containing nickel arsenide) probably from Kupfer copper + Nickel goblin; from the deceptive copper color of niccolite

First Known Use: 1755

Rhymes with NICKEL

brickle, chicle, fickle, mickle, pickle, prickle, sickle, stickle, tical, tickle, trickle

NICKEL Defined for Kids

nickel

noun nick·el \ˈni-kəl\

Definition of NICKEL for Kids

: a hard silvery white metallic chemical element that can be highly polished, resists weathering, and is used in alloys

: a United States coin worth five cents

Medical Dictionary

nickel

noun nick·el \ˈnik-əl\

Medical Definition of NICKEL

: a silver-white hard malleable ductile metallic element capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion that is used chiefly in alloys and as a catalyst—symbol Ni; see element table