sulfur

noun

sul·​fur ˈsəl-fər 

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

sulfury adjective

or chiefly British sulphury

ˈsəl-fər-ē 

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

But ship emissions continued to pose health threats, and a 2016 study estimated that not reducing ship sulfur limits by 2020 would contribute to more than 570,000 additional premature deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2025. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024

Congestion pricing will help electrify the market and replace up to 1,000 of the trucks serving it, reducing nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides levels and benefiting everyone living nearby. —Kevin Garcia, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2024

Because it has been accompanied by significant warming of ocean temperatures, a lot of attention has focused on changes to pollution rules for international shipping, which are meant to reduce sulfur emissions. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 6 June 2024

In sandy and low organic matter soils, sulfur deficiency can occur. —Dr. Haiying Tao, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sulphur brimstone, from Latin sulpur, sulphur, sulfur

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sulfur

• sulfur bacterium
• sulfur dioxide
• sulfur mushroom
• sulfur polypore
• sulfur shelf

Kids Definition

sulfur

noun

sul·​fur

variants also sulphur

ˈsəl-fər 

: 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

ˈsəl-fər 

: 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