Amalgam is a noun with two main meanings. It can refer to a mercury-basedMade from or containing mercury as a main ingredient. metal mixture used in dentistryThe profession and practice of treating teeth and gums., or more generally to a blendA combination of different elements that forms a single whole. of different things combined into one.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /əˈmælɡəm/
Easy pronunciation: uh-MAL-gum (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the second syllable.
Primary sense: the dental mercury-based filling material.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Amalgam Meaning
a mercury-based filling material used in dentistry
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used in dentistry to fill teeth
Example: The dentist used amalgam to fill the cavity.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- dental amalgam — Exact term for the dental material
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Amalgam
Meaning 2
a mixture of different ideas, styles, or things
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a combination or blend of diverse things
Example: His theory is an amalgam of earlier ideas.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Amalgam Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- dental amalgam
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use amalgam to mean any mixture, but the word often refers to a specific kind of metal mixture or a figurative blend.
- It is not the same as a simple physical mixture in every context; the dental sense is more specific.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does amalgam mean?
Amalgam can mean a mercury-based metal mixture used in dentistry, or more generally a blend of different things combined into one.
What is a synonym for amalgam?
For the dental meaning, a good synonym is dental amalgam. For the broader meaning of a blend, there are no strong direct synonyms in the supplied data.
How is amalgam used in a sentence?
You could say, “His theory is an amalgam of earlier ideas.”
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.