HealthJuly 6, 2026

selenium

/səˈliːniəm/

Definition

A chemical element that serves as a vital trace mineral, essential for various metabolic and bodily functions.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek word 'selēnē', meaning 'moon,' and was named by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1817 because it was associated with the element tellurium (named for the Earth).

In the news

In this article, selenium is mentioned as a nutrient found within sardines, contributing to the fish's overall high nutritional value.

4 Health Benefits of Sardines

Read the full article ↗

Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.