hydrogen peroxide

noun

: an unstable compound H₂O₂ used especially as an oxidizing and bleaching agent, an antiseptic, and a propellant

Examples of hydrogen peroxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That includes 24 instances in which companies were cited for doctoring their samples sent for testing, either by drying them in dehydrators, passing them through ozone machines, or treating them with hydrogen peroxide, among other methods. —Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2025

Muscle cells, for example, use tons of energy, causing their mitochondria to release lots of a side product of energy processing: reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide. —Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025

Plants of all types continuously produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as part of natural processes such as photosynthesis and respiration. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2025

Unlike strips, these usually combine technology, like LED lights, with active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide that do the actual whitening. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hydrogen peroxide

• aminoglycoside
• chlordiazepoxide
• dimethylformamide
• oligosaccharide
• paraformaldehyde
• polynucleotide
• ribonucleotide
• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride

Kids Definition

hydrogen peroxide

noun

: an unstable liquid compound containing hydrogen and oxygen and used especially for bleaching and as an antiseptic

Medical Definition

hydrogen peroxide

noun

: an unstable compound H₂O₂ used especially as an oxidizing and bleaching agent and as an antiseptic