cyanide

noun

cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd 

-nəd

1

: a compound of cyanogen with a more electropositive element or group: such as

a

: potassium cyanide

b

: sodium cyanide

2

: cyanogen sense 1

Examples of cyanide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In April, her gym water bottle was allegedly contaminated with cyanide and thallium after her car was broken into, prosecutors said, according to WKOW. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 24 June 2025

However, Brown said Whitaker’s phone showed searches for cyanide, lethal doses of the poison and if cyanide powder goes bad. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2025

Angela Craig, a 43-year-old mother of six who was married to her husband for 23 years, died in March 2023 of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, the latter a substance found in over-the-counter eye drops, according to the coroner. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2024

Wongso was accused of slipping cyanide into the friend's iced Vietnamese coffee at an upscale café in Jan. 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia, per the New York Times. —Christine Pelisek, People.com, 10 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cyanide

• hydrogen cyanide
• potassium cyanide
• sodium cyanide

Rhymes for cyanide

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• alongside
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide
• certified

Kids Definition

cyanide

noun

cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd 

-nəd

: a very poisonous compound consisting of carbon and nitrogen with either sodium or potassium

Medical Definition

cyanide

noun

cy·​a·​nide ˈsī-ə-ˌnīd, -nəd 

: any of several compounds (as potassium cyanide) that contain the radical CN having a chemical valence of one, react with and inactivate respiratory enzymes, and are rapidly lethal producing drowsiness, tachycardia, coma, and finally death