: a binary compound of phosphorus with a more electropositive element or group
Examples of phosphide in a Sentence
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The potential diversion of the supply of indium phosphide chips manufactured by Emcore’s digital chips business away from the U.S. was also identified as a national security risk, the Treasury Department added.
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Victor Loh, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2026
It’s also being investigated whether the family was exposed to severe amounts of aluminium phosphide, used in pesticides, The New York Times reported, citing local outlets.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 20 Nov. 2025
The increase is attributed to higher demand for indium phosphide (InP) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2025
One scenario is that volcanoes release chemical compounds called phosphides, which could react with sulfur dioxide in Venus’ atmosphere to form phosphine—a plausible explanation given that scientists have found evidence of active volcanism on our twin planet.
—Elise Cutts, WIRED, 7 Apr. 2024
One scenario is that volcanoes release chemical compounds called phosphides, which could react with sulfur dioxide in Venus’ atmosphere to form phosphine — a plausible explanation given that scientists have found evidence of active volcanism on our twin planet.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
The aluminum phosphide is alleged to have been activated by moisture to create the gas phosphine, which traveled to Fatiha’s apartment above.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024
The Chalmers researchers use transistors made from indium phosphide (InP), a familiar material for LNAs, though gallium arsenide is more common commercially.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Jan. 2021
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Victor Loh, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2026
It’s also being investigated whether the family was exposed to severe amounts of aluminium phosphide, used in pesticides, The New York Times reported, citing local outlets.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 20 Nov. 2025
The increase is attributed to higher demand for indium phosphide (InP) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2025
One scenario is that volcanoes release chemical compounds called phosphides, which could react with sulfur dioxide in Venus’ atmosphere to form phosphine—a plausible explanation given that scientists have found evidence of active volcanism on our twin planet.
—Elise Cutts, WIRED, 7 Apr. 2024
One scenario is that volcanoes release chemical compounds called phosphides, which could react with sulfur dioxide in Venus’ atmosphere to form phosphine — a plausible explanation given that scientists have found evidence of active volcanism on our twin planet.
—Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
The aluminum phosphide is alleged to have been activated by moisture to create the gas phosphine, which traveled to Fatiha’s apartment above.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024
The Chalmers researchers use transistors made from indium phosphide (InP), a familiar material for LNAs, though gallium arsenide is more common commercially.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Phosphide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphide. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
phosphide
noun
phos·phide
-ˌfīd 
: a binary compound of phosphorus with a more electropositive element or group
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