nickel

IPA/ˈnɪkl/
KK[nˈɪkəl]IPA/ˈnɪkl/

nickel — noun

  • nickelsingular
  • nickelsplural

1. a silver-white metal that does not rust or tarnish easily and is mixed with othe

1.nounB1
Definition

a silver-white metal that does not rust or tarnish easily and is mixed with other metals to create alloys such as stainless steel

Example

The recycling centre separates nickel from other metals and sells it to factories.

passive + industrial recycling context

The Watanabe family's kitchen knives are made of stainless steel that contains nickel and chromium.

Common collocations
  • nickel mine
  • nickel deposit
  • nickel alloy
  • nickel content
  • nickel plating
  • stainless steel with nickel
Synonyms
  • metal

    much more general term for any metallic element

  • alloy

    a mixture of metals — nickel itself is not an alloy but is used to make them

Grammar Patterns

nickel + verb (uncountable)

a range of + nickels (countable, technical)

Usage Note

Usually uncountable (e.g. 'Nickel is expensive'). The countable form 'nickels' appears mainly in technical writing about different types of nickel alloys.

Common Mistakes

Nickel is a soft metal that bends very easily.
Nickel is a hard metal that resists rust and damage.
Nickel is actually quite hard and strong, not soft like lead or tin.

2. a coin used in the United States and Canada that has a value of five cents

2.nounB1
Definition

a coin used in the United States and Canada that has a value of five cents

Example

Hugo found three nickels and a dime in the bottom of his backpack.

collocation: nickels and dimes together

The parking meter in Christopher's neighbourhood only accepts nickels, dimes, and quarters.

collocation: nickels, dimes, and quarters (set phrase)

Common collocations
  • nickels and dimes
  • roll of nickels
  • nickel coin
  • spare nickels
Synonyms
  • five-cent piece

    more formal, used in official contexts

  • coin

    general term for any metal currency piece

Grammar Patterns

a + nickel

nickels + (and dimes/quarters)

Usage Note

Countable noun. Often appears in the fixed phrase 'nickels and dimes' to refer to small amounts of money. 'Nickel' as a coin is not used in other countries — each country has its own coin names.

Common Mistakes

I paid five nickels for the sandwich.
I paid five dollars for the sandwich.
A nickel is a single coin, not a unit of currency. Say 'five dollars' or 'five one-dollar bills.'

3. a formation in American football in which five defensive backs are deployed at t

3.nounC1
Definition

a formation in American football in which five defensive backs are deployed at the same time, instead of the usual four, in order to defend against forward passes

Example

The coach used a nickel formation when the other team sent out three wide receivers.

Mateo studied the nickel defense for hours before the championship game against their strongest rivals.

attributive: nickel defense

Common collocations
  • nickel defense
  • nickel formation
  • nickel package
  • nickel back
  • nickel coverage
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • base defense

    the standard defensive formation with four defensive backs (three cornerbacks and two safeties or variations with four defensive backs)

Grammar Patterns

nickel + defense/package/formation/coverage/back

in a + nickel + formation

Usage Note

The name comes from the value of a nickel coin (five cents) — five defensive backs on the field. Used almost exclusively as a modifier before another noun: nickel defense, nickel back, nickel package.

Common Mistakes

The team played a nickel in the second half.
The team used a nickel defense in the second half.
'Nickel' alone is not used this way; the full term 'nickel defense' or 'nickel formation' is preferred.

4. slang term for an amount of an illegal drug that costs five dollars

4.nounC2
Definition

slang term for an amount of an illegal drug that costs five dollars

Example

The undercover officer bought a nickel of marijuana from a dealer near the park.

pattern: a nickel of [drug]

Noor never used drugs, so her brother warned her to avoid people selling nickels near the school gates.

Grammar Patterns

a + nickel + of + [drug]

Usage Note

This is urban slang and should only be used in informal or fictional contexts. Not understood outside of North American drug culture. Never use in formal writing or academic English.

Word family

  • nickel-plated
    adjectiveC1
  • nickel-and-dime
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Nickel, steel, aluminum, copper, and silver are all metals, but each has distinct characteristics. Nickel is a pure element valued for rust resistance and hardness in alloys. Steel is itself an alloy — iron mixed with carbon and often nickel for strength. Aluminum is much lighter than nickel and naturally rust-resistant, but softer and less durable in structural uses. Copper has a reddish colour and excellent electrical conductivity, but it tarnishes faster than nickel. Silver is more expensive, softer, and mainly used in jewellery, photography, and electronics. In everyday language: a 'stainless steel' pan is reinforced with nickel. An 'aluminum can' is lightweight. 'Copper pipes' carry water. A 'silver necklace' is precious. Use 'nickel' specifically when referring to the metallic element or its industrial role in plating and alloys.

steel ↗aluminum ↗copper ↗silver ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • nickel mine
  • nickel content
  • nickel alloy
  • nickel plating
  • nickel industry

Phrases

  • nickel and dime

Prepositions

  • of nickel
  • with nickel
  • in nickel

Etymology

GermanEnglish

The word 'nickel' comes from the German 'Nickel', meaning a mischievous goblin or elf. In the 1600s, German miners found an ore that looked like copper but produced none when smelted. They blamed this trick on a spirit called 'Kupfernickel' (copper goblin). In 1751, Swedish chemist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt isolated the new metal from this ore and named it nickel.