cyanogen
noun
cy·an·o·gen
sī-ˈa-nə-jən 
1
: a monovalent group −CN present in cyanides
2
: a colorless flammable poisonous gas (CN)2
Examples of cyanogen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And cyanogen chloride is indeed used as a chemical warfare agent, according to the National Institutes of Health.
—
Gabrielle Settles, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2016
So far, there's no evidence that exposure to the actual, very low concentrations of cyanogen chloride in pools will protect you in any way or give you superpowers.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 23 June 2023
One astronomer pointed out that Earth would encounter the comet’s gaseous tail, filled with toxic cyanogen gas.
—Popular Science, 9 Dec. 2023
The comet has a bright green glow around its nucleus, due to the effect of sunlight on its molecules, especially diatomic carbon and cyanogen.
—Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 8 Feb. 2023
Separating light from 2I/Borisov into its component parts, his team found a signature of cyanogen, a molecule made of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom bonded together.
—Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Nov. 2019
The probe survived for about 72 minutes on the cold ground, spying rocks of water ice, measuring the atmospheric density and temperature, and detecting organic compounds such as ethane, cyanogen, benzene and large amounts of methane.
—Jay Bennett, Smithsonian, 6 May 2012
Hydrogen glows red, helium glows yellow, and cyanogen glows green.
—Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2018
The comet currently passing by Earth, comet 46P/Wirtanen, has a substantial amount of cyanogen.
—Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2018
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Gabrielle Settles, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2016
So far, there's no evidence that exposure to the actual, very low concentrations of cyanogen chloride in pools will protect you in any way or give you superpowers.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 23 June 2023
One astronomer pointed out that Earth would encounter the comet’s gaseous tail, filled with toxic cyanogen gas.
—Popular Science, 9 Dec. 2023
The comet has a bright green glow around its nucleus, due to the effect of sunlight on its molecules, especially diatomic carbon and cyanogen.
—Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 8 Feb. 2023
Separating light from 2I/Borisov into its component parts, his team found a signature of cyanogen, a molecule made of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom bonded together.
—Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Nov. 2019
The probe survived for about 72 minutes on the cold ground, spying rocks of water ice, measuring the atmospheric density and temperature, and detecting organic compounds such as ethane, cyanogen, benzene and large amounts of methane.
—Jay Bennett, Smithsonian, 6 May 2012
Hydrogen glows red, helium glows yellow, and cyanogen glows green.
—Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2018
The comet currently passing by Earth, comet 46P/Wirtanen, has a substantial amount of cyanogen.
—Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Cyanogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyanogen. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cyanogen
noun
cy·ano·gen
sī-ˈan-ə-jən
1
: a monovalent group −CN present in cyanides
2
: a colorless flammable poisonous gas (CN)2
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