mustard gas

noun

: an irritant vesicant oily liquid C4H8Cl2S used especially as a chemical weapon

Examples of mustard gas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The trail links Rocky Flats with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, land outside of downtown Denver that also was cleaned up after contamination from the manufacture of chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas, for World War II. Gary Stoller, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Chemical weapons, which contain phosgene, arsenic and sulfur mustard (also known as mustard gas), are too lethal to handle, probably ever, admits Guldin. Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024 Derived from a relative of mustard gas, the drug is known to be highly toxic to a variety of blood cells; in fact, doctors had long used it to kill the diseased bone marrow in patients before transplant. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024 In 24 hours more than 600 people in the area reported symptoms of mustard gas poisoning. Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2020 See all Example Sentences for mustard gas 

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mustard gas was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near mustard gas

Cite this Entry

“Mustard gas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mustard%20gas. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mustard gas

noun
: a poisonous gas used in war that has strongly irritating and especially blistering effects

Medical Definition

mustard gas

noun
: an irritant oily liquid C4H8Cl2S used especially as a chemical weapon that causes blistering, attacks the eyes and lungs, and is a systemic poison

called also dichlorethyl sulfide, sulfur mustard

More from Merriam-Webster on mustard gas

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!