calcium chloride

noun

: a white deliquescent salt CaCl2 used in its anhydrous state as a drying and dehumidifying agent and in a hydrated state for controlling dust and ice on roads

Examples of calcium chloride 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.
As for calcium chloride for driveways and sidewalks, availability depends on the store. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026 Keep sidewalks and parking lots ice-free with rock salt, calcium chloride, Purple Heat, or another de-icer. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 19 Feb. 2026 Clearing snow and ice after a major storm is no easy task, particularly for those without access to traditional rock salt and calcium chloride ice melt. — Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Jan. 2026 At the same time, a salty liquid containing calcium chloride (a salt often used to de-ice roads) is pumped through the regenerator, which carries the heat away and ejects it to the surroundings on exit. — IEEE Spectrum, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for calcium chloride

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of calcium chloride was in 1866

Rhymes for calcium chloride

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Browse Nearby Words

calcium channel blocker
calcium chloride
calcium citrate
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Cite this Entry

“Calcium chloride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calcium%20chloride. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

calcium chloride

noun
: a salt that absorbs moisture from the air and is used to dry other substances

Medical Definition

calcium chloride

noun
: a salt CaCl2 used in medicine as a source of calcium and as a diuretic

More from Merriam-Webster on calcium chloride

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about calcium chloride

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