phosphor

noun

phos·​phor ˈfäs-fər 

-ˌfȯr

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

But with the development of new display technologies over the past 20 years that have ultra-narrow band spectra — such as OLED, LEDs with KSF phosphors, and quantum dots — CIE 1931’s shortcomings are increasingly apparent. — John Higgins, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026

Paired with that is a laser-phosphor light source that produces four primary colors, using a blue laser and a color wheel. — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026

Companies processed heavy mineral sands from Australia, Brazil, and India, and hard rock from South Africa, to produce rare earths for tracer ammunition, steel alloys, cigarette-lighter flints, and, later, color-TV phosphors. — Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2026

Scientists began describing minerals that glowed in the dark as phosphors in the Middle Ages. — ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin phosphorus, from Greek phōsphoros, literally, light bringer, from phōsphoros light-bearing, from phōs light + pherein to carry, bring — more at fancy, bear

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing phosphor

• phosphor bronze

Rhymes for phosphor

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore

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

-ˌfō(ə)r, -ˌfȯ(ə)r, -fər 

: a phosphorescent substance

specifically : a substance that emits light when excited by radiation