sulfonate

1 of 2

noun

sul·​fo·​nate ˈsəl-fə-ˌnāt How to pronounce sulfonate (audio)
: a salt or ester of a sulfonic acid

sulfonate

2 of 2

verb

sulfonated; sulfonating

transitive verb

: to introduce the SO3H group into
broadly : to treat (an organic substance) with sulfuric acid
sulfonation
ˌsəl-fə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce sulfonate (audio)
noun

Examples of sulfonate 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.
Noun
Some common chemical names to look out for include linear alkylate sulfonate or any other variety with sulfate or sulfonate in their name and enzymes like amylase, lipase and protease. — Jodhaira Rodriguez, Good Housekeeping, 11 Oct. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1876, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sulfonate was in 1876

Phrases Containing sulfonate

Browse Nearby Words

sulfonamide
sulfonate
sulfonated oil
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sulfonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfonate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

sulfonate

1 of 2 noun
sul·​fo·​nate
variants or chiefly British sulphonate
ˈsəl-fə-ˌnāt How to pronounce sulfonate (audio)
: a salt or ester of a sulfonic acid

sulfonate

2 of 2 transitive verb
variants or chiefly British sulphonate
sulfonated or chiefly British sulphonated; sulfonating or chiefly British sulphonating
: to introduce the SO3H group into
broadly : to treat (an organic substance) with sulfuric acid
sulfonation noun
or chiefly British sulphonation
ˌsəl-fə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce sulfonate (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on sulfonate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sulfonate

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