variants
or chiefly British sulphur
: a nonmetallic chemical element that is an essential element for all life, resembles oxygen in chemical properties, and is used especially in the form of sulfuric acid to extract phosphates from ores see Chemical Elements Table
Is it sulfur or sulphur?: Usage Guide
The spelling sulfur predominates in U.S. technical usage, while both sulfur and sulphur are common in general usage. British usage tends to favor sulphur for all applications. The same pattern is seen in most of the words derived from sulfur.
Examples of sulfur in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The sulfur particles, on the other hand, ranked second to last because of their tendency to absorb sunlight at certain wavelengths rather than reflect it and its clumpiness.
—
Devika Rao, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024
Then, in 2023, astronomers spied weird filaments glowing with light from sulfur within the nebula.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
California’s gasoline also contains lower sulfur levels than the national average.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
The bacteria and debris that form the stones can produce sulfur compounds that cause a foul odor.
—Sarah Hudgens, Health, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sulfur 
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Devika Rao, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024
Then, in 2023, astronomers spied weird filaments glowing with light from sulfur within the nebula.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024
California’s gasoline also contains lower sulfur levels than the national average.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
The bacteria and debris that form the stones can produce sulfur compounds that cause a foul odor.
—Sarah Hudgens, Health, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sulfur
Dictionary Entries Near sulfur
Cite this Entry
“Sulfur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfur. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sulfur
noun
sul·fur
variants
also sulphur
: a nonmetallic element that occurs either free or combined especially in sulfides and sulfates, is found in proteins, exists in several forms including yellow crystals, and is used especially in the chemical and paper industries, in strengthening rubber, and in medicine for treating skin diseases see element
Medical Definition
sulfur
1 of 2 noun
sul·fur
variants
or chiefly British sulphur
: a nonmetallic element that occurs either free or combined especially in sulfides and sulfates, is a constituent of proteins, exists in several allotropic forms including yellow orthorhombic crystals, resembles oxygen chemically but is less active and more acidic, and is used especially in the chemical and paper industries, in rubber vulcanization, and in medicine for treating skin diseases
—symbol S
see Chemical Elements Table
sulfur
2 of 2 adjective
variants
or chiefly British sulphur
: of, relating to, or resembling sulfur : containing or impregnated with sulfur
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