1
: a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH3 that is very soluble in water and can easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure
2
Examples of ammonia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The findings in the Nature Astronomy paper were significant not just for the discovery of the five RNA and DNA precursors, but for the presence of abundant levels of ammonia, which is a key chemical building block for life.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
For ammonia to exist in salt form, the environment must be cold.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2025
Glavin’s team also found compounds rich in nitrogen and ammonia in the samples, suggesting that Bennu was part of a larger asteroid that formed about 4.5 billion years ago in the frigid, distant regions of the solar system.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
Hog and poultry barns are equipped with giant exhaust fans that push pollutants, such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter, out into the atmosphere.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ammonia
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
For ammonia to exist in salt form, the environment must be cold.
—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2025
Glavin’s team also found compounds rich in nitrogen and ammonia in the samples, suggesting that Bennu was part of a larger asteroid that formed about 4.5 billion years ago in the frigid, distant regions of the solar system.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
Hog and poultry barns are equipped with giant exhaust fans that push pollutants, such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter, out into the atmosphere.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ammonia
Cite this Entry
“Ammonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ammonia. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ammonia
noun
am·mo·nia
ə-ˈmō-nyə 
1
: a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, has a sharp smell and taste, is easily dissolved in water, can easily be made a liquid by cold and pressure, is used to make ice, fertilizers, and explosives, and is the chief nitrogen-containing waste product of many organisms that live in water
2
: a solution of ammonia in water
ammoniacal
adjective
ˌam-ə-ˈnī-ə-kəl
Etymology
from Latin sal ammoniacus "ammonium chloride," literally "salt of Ammon," named for the Egyptian god Ammon near whose temple the salt was extracted
Medical Definition
ammonia
noun
am·mo·nia
ə-ˈmō-nyə
1
: a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH3 that is very soluble in water and can easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share