methylmercury

noun

meth·​yl·​mer·​cury ˌme-thəl-ˈmər-kyə-rē 

-ˈmər-k(ə-)rē

: any of various toxic compounds of mercury containing the complex CH₃Hg− that often occur as pollutants which accumulate in living organisms (such as fish) especially in higher levels of a food chain

Examples of methylmercury in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eating fish containing methylmercury is actually the most common mercury exposure route in the US, per the EPA. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 22 Apr. 2025

Humans who eat fish that have eaten smaller aquatic life with methylmercury in their bodies can potentially be exposed to dangerous levels of methylmercury that acts like a neurotoxin. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 Feb. 2025

Known for being one of the most dangerous pollutants in existence, methylmercury is released into the environment via industrial activities such as the burning of coal. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2025

When exposed to methylmercury, the enzymes catalyze the protonolysis of methylmercury and naturally transform it into the less toxic elemental mercury (Hg0). —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for methylmercury

• mercury

Medical Definition

methylmercury

noun

meth·​yl·​mer·​cury

ˌmeth-əl-ˈmər-kyə-rē, British also ˌmē-ˌthīl-

plural methylmercuries

: any of various toxic compounds of mercury containing the complex CH₃Hg− that often occur as pollutants formed as industrial by-products or pesticide residues, tend to accumulate in living organisms (as fish) especially in higher levels of a food chain, are rapidly and easily absorbed through the human intestinal wall, and cause neurological dysfunction in humans see minamata disease