potassium nitrate

noun

: a crystalline salt KNO₃ that occurs as a product of nitrification in arable soils, is a strong oxidizer, and is used especially in making gunpowder, as a fertilizer, and in medicine

Examples of potassium nitrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Potash includes potassium nitrate, potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Nutritional Benefits of Ham Most ham in the United States is cured, a process in which salt, sodium, potassium nitrate, nitrites, and sometimes sugar, seasonings, phosphates, and other compounds are used to preserve meat. —Cynthia Sass, Health, 2 Dec. 2025

Chemists became more creative, adding in sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

In the 19th century, bat guano was mined from American caves to extract nitrates, which were chemically refined into potassium nitrate (saltpeter), a key component of gunpowder. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for potassium nitrate

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• incapacitate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate

Kids Definition

potassium nitrate

noun

: a salt used in making gunpowder, as a fertilizer, and in medicine

Medical Definition

potassium nitrate

noun

: a crystalline salt KNO₃ that is a strong oxidizing agent and is used in medicine chiefly as a diuretic

called also niter, saltpeter