Origin: Latin suffix -al
Alkali metal has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
any of the monovalent metals of group I of the periodic table (lithium or sodium or potassium or rubidium or cesium or francium)
"the hydroxides of the alkali metals are strongly alkaline"
Any of the soft, light, reactive metals of Group 1 of the periodic table; lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.