phosphorus

noun

phos·​pho·​rus ˈfäs-f(ə-)rəs How to pronounce phosphorus (audio)
often attributive
1
: a phosphorescent substance or body
especially : one that shines or glows in the dark
2
or less commonly phosphorous : a nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family with atomic number 15 that occurs widely in combination especially as phosphates, that is essential for life in all known organisms, and that is used especially in fertilizers and organophosphorus compounds see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of phosphorus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The rain leaches the sandy, volcanic soil, draining it of nitrogen and phosphorus. Douglas Main, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Each organic product will show three numbers on the label that express the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Maureen Gilmer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 Nitrogen and phosphorus are flowing from the Mississippi River Basin into the Gulf of Mexico, creating an oxygen-void area along southern Louisiana and eastern Texas over 18 times larger than Chicago. Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2024 More:It's been more than a decade since Wisconsin cracked down on phosphorus. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2024 Made from milk fermented with the bacteria, or probiotics, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, yogurt is rich in calcium, protein, B vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Life on Earth requires a rich supply of nutrients made from carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 The entire Klamath basin is high in phosphorus, which is an essential nutrient for plant growth. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 America’s roughly 16,000 golf courses use 1.5 billion gallons of water a day, according to the United States Golf Association, and are collectively treated with 100,000 tons of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium a year. Cara Buckley, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phosphorus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek phōsphoros light-bearing — more at phosphor

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of phosphorus was in 1680

Dictionary Entries Near phosphorus

Cite this Entry

“Phosphorus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphorus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

phosphorus

noun
phos·​pho·​rus ˈfäs-f(ə-)rəs How to pronounce phosphorus (audio)
1
: a phosphorescent substance
especially : one that glows in the dark
2
: a nonmetallic element that occurs widely especially as phosphates see element
phosphoric
fäs-ˈfȯr-ik
-ˈfär-
adjective
phosphorous
ˈfäs-f(ə-)rəs;
fäs-ˈfōr-əs
-ˈfȯr-
adjective

Medical Definition

phosphorus

noun
phos·​pho·​rus ˈfäs-f(ə-)rəs How to pronounce phosphorus (audio)
often attributive
: a nonmetallic multivalent element that occurs widely in combined form especially as inorganic phosphates in minerals, soils, natural waters, bones, and teeth and as organic phosphates in all living cells and that exists in several allotropic forms
symbol P
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on phosphorus

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