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
Diesel particulate matter has been slashed by 91 percent and sulfur oxides reduced by 98 percent since 2005, even as cargo processing increased by 15 percent during that period.
—
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Jan. 2025
The mismatch of sulfur isotopes from that of anhydrite and the close match between the ice core sulfur isotopes and Zavaritskii ash put the nail in the coffin of the 1831 sulfur spike source.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025
When lithium meets sulfur... Sulfur is an attractive battery material.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 17 Jan. 2025
The creepy glow was caused by the sulfur, officials said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sulfur 
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Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 27 Jan. 2025
The mismatch of sulfur isotopes from that of anhydrite and the close match between the ice core sulfur isotopes and Zavaritskii ash put the nail in the coffin of the 1831 sulfur spike source.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025
When lithium meets sulfur... Sulfur is an attractive battery material.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 17 Jan. 2025
The creepy glow was caused by the sulfur, officials said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
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 Feb. 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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