ammonia

noun

am·​mo·​nia ə-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce ammonia (audio)
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
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.
Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia or glass cleaner. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025 Tips For Using Bleach The Centers for Disease Control warns consumers of important safety tips when using bleach to clean or sanitize: Bleach should never be mixed with ammonia or other cleaners. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 May 2025 Even after the penguins migrated from the area, the ammonia concentration was still more than 100 times higher than the baseline, as the penguin guano left at the colony site continued to emit the gas. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 May 2025 However, compost can start to smell like rotten eggs, ammonia, or worse if the composting process goes awry or the compost pile has become imbalanced in some way. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ammonia

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, derivative based on Latin sal ammōniacus "rock salt," literally, "salt of Ammon," from ammōniacus "of Ammon," borrowed from Greek ammōniakós, derivative of Ámmōn, an Egyptian deity identified by the Greeks with Zeus, borrowed from Egyptian ỉmn; from its having been extracted near an oracle of Ammon near the Siwa oasis in Egypt

Note: The identification of sal ammoniac, not well described by ancient authors, as ammonium chloride was apparently part of medieval alchemical tradition.

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ammonia was in 1788

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ammonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ammonia. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

ammonia

noun
am·​mo·​nia ə-ˈmō-nyə How to pronounce ammonia (audio)
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
ˌam-ə-ˈnī-ə-kəl
adjective
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 How to pronounce ammonia (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on ammonia

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