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
There’s a high concentration of sulfur—not enough to smell strongly, just enough to be good for your respiratory system.
—
Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 1 Apr. 2025
With a lower sulfur content and more energy-efficient operations, marine gas oil is a focus for the line’s newer ships.
—Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
The instrument detected an abundance of sulfur, which can be used to preserve organic molecules; nitrates, which are essential for plant and animal health on Earth; and methane composed of a type of carbon associated with biological processes on Earth.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Kala Namak Kala namak, also known as black salt, contains sulfur compounds similar to those found in eggs.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sulfur
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Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 1 Apr. 2025
With a lower sulfur content and more energy-efficient operations, marine gas oil is a focus for the line’s newer ships.
—Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
The instrument detected an abundance of sulfur, which can be used to preserve organic molecules; nitrates, which are essential for plant and animal health on Earth; and methane composed of a type of carbon associated with biological processes on Earth.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Kala Namak Kala namak, also known as black salt, contains sulfur compounds similar to those found in eggs.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sulfur
Cite this Entry
“Sulfur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfur. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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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