variants
or less commonly phosphore
ˈfäs-ˌfȯr 
-fər
1
: a phosphorescent substance
2
: a luminescent substance that emits light when excited by radiation (such as electrons) and is used especially in fluorescent lamps and cathode-ray tubes
Examples of phosphor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Experts believe that purple streetlights are a result of this phosphor coating peeling off or degrading away due to issues in the manufacturing process.
—
Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
In order to split this light into the whole spectrum of colors that creates white light, manufacturers paint a material called phosphor onto the diodes inside the bulb.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
The phosphor coating has been peeling off exposing the LED's blue color.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2024
Ram Seshadri, a materials science professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told Scientific American that the phosphor technique is sound.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2024
The issue, the company said, is the result of a defective phosphor coating in the street light fixtures, which was designed to make the bluish color of the LEDs appear white.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023
The phosphors glow where the beam strikes; the glow eventually fades until struck again by the electron beam.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 July 2022
Seeing in the dark is all about photons, electrons, and phosphor.
—Rob Verger, Popular Science, 16 Jan. 2023
In the last half of the 20th century, europium, with atomic number 63, came in to wide demand for its role as a color-producing phosphor in video screens, including computer monitors and plasma TVs.
—Stanley Merzman, Discover Magazine, 21 Aug. 2018
Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
In order to split this light into the whole spectrum of colors that creates white light, manufacturers paint a material called phosphor onto the diodes inside the bulb.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
The phosphor coating has been peeling off exposing the LED's blue color.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2024
Ram Seshadri, a materials science professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told Scientific American that the phosphor technique is sound.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2024
The issue, the company said, is the result of a defective phosphor coating in the street light fixtures, which was designed to make the bluish color of the LEDs appear white.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023
The phosphors glow where the beam strikes; the glow eventually fades until struck again by the electron beam.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 July 2022
Seeing in the dark is all about photons, electrons, and phosphor.
—Rob Verger, Popular Science, 16 Jan. 2023
In the last half of the 20th century, europium, with atomic number 63, came in to wide demand for its role as a color-producing phosphor in video screens, including computer monitors and plasma TVs.
—Stanley Merzman, Discover Magazine, 21 Aug. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phosphor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Phosphor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphor. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
phosphor
noun
phos·phor
ˈfäs-fər
-ˌfȯ(ə)r
: a substance exhibiting phosphorescence
Medical Definition
phosphor
noun
phos·phor
ˈfäs-fər, -ˌfȯ(ə)r
variants
also phosphore
: a phosphorescent substance
specifically
: a substance that emits light when excited by radiation
More from Merriam-Webster on phosphor
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about phosphor
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