Standard Lemma guide

unobtainium

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /(ˌ)ʌn.ɒbˈteɪ.nɪ.əm/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /-əb-/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌʌn.əbˈteɪ.ni.əm/
  • rhymes with -eɪniəm

1

noun

Meaning 1

A fictional material or component which, if it existed, would enable one to easily solve a hard problem.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, humorous, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: handwavium

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An especially rare material or component that is outrageously expensive or otherwise almost impossible to get hold of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, humorous, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A high technology component that is extremely expensive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, humorous, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From unobtain(able) + -ium (suffix typical of names of atomic elements), modelled after uranium and titanium. Compare also the origin of dysprosium.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 難得素 /难得素 (nándésù) — fictional component or material which would enable one to easily solve a hard problem
  • Japanese: アンオブタニウム — fictional component or material which would enable one to easily solve a hard problem
  • Korean: 언옵테늄 (eonoptenyum) — fictional component or material which would enable one to easily solve a hard problem
  • Russian: анобта́ниум (anobtánium) — fictional component or material which would enable one to easily solve a hard problem
  • Russian: унобта́ний (unobtánij) — fictional component or material which would enable one to easily solve a hard problem
  • Ukrainian: анобта́ніум (anobtánium) — fictional component or material which would enable one to easily solve a hard problem
  • Ukrainian: унобта́ній (unobtánij) — fictional component or material which would enable one to easily solve a hard problem
  • German: Nichtzukriegium — especially rare component almost impossible to get hold of
  • German: Unbeschaffbarium — especially rare component almost impossible to get hold of
  • German: Unobtanium — especially rare component almost impossible to get hold of