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
Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are the primary ones followed by sulfur.
—
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
Up to 30% of world fertilizer exports — including urea, ammonia, phosphates and sulfur — pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Joseph Glauber of the International Food Policy Research Institute.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The old fuel was heavy in sulfur; once in the atmosphere, sulfate pollution attracted water droplets, causing visible cloud plumes to trail behind a ship chugging across the ocean.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026
These fires result in incomplete combustion, releasing a toxic slurry of carbon monoxide, soot, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides that can form acid rain, along with metallic compounds and oil droplets.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sulfur
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Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
Up to 30% of world fertilizer exports — including urea, ammonia, phosphates and sulfur — pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Joseph Glauber of the International Food Policy Research Institute.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The old fuel was heavy in sulfur; once in the atmosphere, sulfate pollution attracted water droplets, causing visible cloud plumes to trail behind a ship chugging across the ocean.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026
These fires result in incomplete combustion, releasing a toxic slurry of carbon monoxide, soot, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides that can form acid rain, along with metallic compounds and oil droplets.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sulfur
Cite this Entry
“Sulfur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfur. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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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