Metallic vs. Metal — What's the Difference?

Metallic describes attributes or appearances that resemble metal, including shininess, density, and conductivity. Metals, on the other hand, are chemical elements that inherently possess these metallic properties, such as iron, gold, and silver.

Metallic is often used in contexts beyond pure chemistry, to describe colors, finishes, or textures in art, fashion, and manufacturing that mimic those of metals. Metals, whereas, are primarily discussed within scientific, industrial, and economic contexts, focusing on their use as materials with distinct physical and chemical properties.

The term metallic can apply to both materials that are metal and non-metal, as long as they exhibit metal-like characteristics. Metals, however, are strictly defined by their position on the periodic table and their specific set of physical and chemical properties, such as electrical conductivity and malleability.

While metallic characteristics can be engineered or imitated in various materials, such as metallic paint or fabrics, metals are naturally occurring elements or alloys that cannot be artificially produced but can be extracted and refined from their ores.

In essence, "metallic" serves as an adjective describing anything that resembles or pertains to metal in appearance or qualities. Metals, on the other hand, are the actual substances that exhibit these metallic properties and are categorized as such based on scientific criteria.