1
: a coloring matter from lichens that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions and is used as an acid-base indicator
2
: the critical factor in a litmus test
also
: litmus test
Examples of litmus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the best was the part about enjoying the season and not making playoff success your litmus for hockey fandom happiness.
—
Murat Ates, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
Alpert maintains that his litmus for music has remained the same throughout the decades.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2024
Looking into next year, Fallout will be an early litmus.
—Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 28 Dec. 2023
Rahmani pointed to Smollett’s forfeiture of his $10,000 bond as a litmus not only for punishment but acceptance of the Foxx agreement.
—Fox News, 17 Mar. 2022
See all Example Sentences for litmus 
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.
Murat Ates, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
Alpert maintains that his litmus for music has remained the same throughout the decades.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2024
Looking into next year, Fallout will be an early litmus.
—Will Bedingfield, WIRED, 28 Dec. 2023
Rahmani pointed to Smollett’s forfeiture of his $10,000 bond as a litmus not only for punishment but acceptance of the Foxx agreement.
—Fox News, 17 Mar. 2022
See all Example Sentences for litmus
Dictionary Entries Near litmus
Cite this Entry
“Litmus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litmus. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
litmus
noun
lit·mus
ˈlit-məs 
: a coloring matter from lichens that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions and is used as an acid-base indicator
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share