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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Cite this Entry
“Phosphine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphine. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
phosphine
noun
phos·phine
-ˌfēn 
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share