phosphine

noun

phos·​phine ˈfäs-ˌfēn How to pronounce phosphine (audio)
1
: any of various derivatives of phosphine analogous to amines but weaker as bases
2
: a colorless poisonous flammable gas PH3 that is a weaker base than ammonia and that is used especially to fumigate stored grain

Examples of phosphine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The proposal is from the same scientists that first detected phosphine (PH3) in the Venusian atmosphere in 2020, detected it again in 2023, then found ammonia (NH3) in 2024. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 The likes of oxygen and water vapor are the most obvious of such biosignatures, but others include ozone, methane, nitrous oxide, dimethyl sulphide and phosphine, to name a few. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025 However, scientists have detected two gases, phosphine and ammonia, that on Earth would be considered biomarkers for life. Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Aug. 2024 Since then, their discovery has faced pushback after other researchers weren't able to replicate the results, or said phosphine identified by the team was something else, Clements said. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 30 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for phosphine

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of phosphine was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Phosphine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphine. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

phosphine

noun
phos·​phine -ˌfēn How to pronounce phosphine (audio)
1
: a colorless poisonous flammable gas PH3 that is a weaker base than ammonia and that is used especially to fumigate stored grain
2
: any of various derivatives of phosphine analogous to amines but weaker as bases

More from Merriam-Webster on phosphine

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