sulfur
3 synonyms for sulfur, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
S
atomic number 16
How to use sulfur
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
smell of sulfur
sulfur dioxide
sulfur compound
Etymology
From Middle English sulphur, via Anglo-Norman, ultimately from Latin sulpur/sulfur of uncertain origin. It displaced the native Old English word swefl.
Full origin of sulfur →Frequently asked questions
What does “sulfur” mean?
The word “sulfur” means a pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control. In plain terms, a yellow, strong-smelling chemical element, also associated in folklore with the smell of hell.
How do you pronounce “sulfur”?
“Sulfur” is pronounced SUHL-fuh (/ˈsʌl.fɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sulfur” in a sentence?
Here is “sulfur” used in a sentence: “The volcanic vents released a strong smell of sulfur.”
What part of speech is “sulfur”?
Depending on how it is used, “sulfur” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “sulfur” come from?
The word “sulfur” comes from Latin. From Middle English sulphur, via Anglo-Norman, ultimately from Latin sulpur/sulfur of uncertain origin. It displaced the native Old English word swefl.
Is “sulfur” a common word?
“Sulfur” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sulfur” have?
“Sulfur” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control.
Related words
desulfurize
desulphurise
desulphurize
disulfoton
solfatara
sulfa
sulfane
sulfatase
sulfate
sulfated
sulfide
sulfite
sulfonal
sulfonamide
sulfone
