sulfate

noun sul·fate \ ˈsəl-ˌfāt \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of sulfate

1 : a salt or ester of sulfuric acid

2 : a divalent group or anion SO₄ characteristic of sulfuric acid and the sulfates

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Recent Examples of sulfate from the Web

Ground gall nuts, taken from an oak-like tree, were boiled to draw out tannic acid, which was mixed with iron sulfate scraped from nails.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "The Science of Saving the Declaration of Independence," 3 July 2018
Without gluten, sulfates, or parabens, and packed with aloe and botanicals, these products take to skin beautifully, feel luxurious and nourishing, and look amazing both on your face and on your vanity.

— tynan sinks, Allure, "The Best Natural and Organic Makeup Brands That Makeup Artists Actually Use," 6 June 2018
In a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Charleston, W.Va., on June 21, Terri Russell said she was hospitalized for four days in September 2016 after taking hyoscyamine sulfate and suffering from symptoms diagnosed as an overdose of the drug.

— ron hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "More lawsuits filed against South Florida drug maker accused of selling contaminated medicines," 29 June 2018
There is concern lava could trigger the release of deadly hydrogen sulfate gas, reports CBS News' Mark Strassmann.

— CBS News, "Hawaii volcano lava flows into power plant, sparking fears of deadly gas release," 22 May 2018
Buy Now Tata Harper restorative eye cream Every guy should have his medicine cabinet stocked with a does-it-all eye cream and this all-natural, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and sulfate-free fits the bill.

— matt sebra, GQ, "The 8 Things We're Obsessed with This June," 5 June 2018
That is maybe a little bit because of the phenomenon of global warming, but a great part of it is likely due to the fact that there are fewer sulfate aerosols in the atmosphere now than there were in the 1980s.

— denise chow /, NBC News, "Hurricane season is here. An extreme weather expert explains what's in store.," 3 June 2018
The shampoo was formulated without sulfates to gently cleanse hair and keep pH levels balanced, which also helps keep color intact.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "A Hair-Care Line That Will Make Your Dye Job Last Longer," 27 Apr. 2018
The salts, a longtime home remedy for aches and pains, are a natural compound of magnesium and sulfate.

— kathi santora, baltimoresun.com, "Remedy Wellness offers flotation therapy as unconventional approach to pain relief," 25 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sulfate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sulfate

French, from Latin sulfur

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1788

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

sulfate

verb

Definition of sulfate

sulfated; sulfating

transitive verb

: to treat or combine with sulfuric acid or a sulfate

Recent Examples of sulfate from the Web

The team also found that sulfated anophelins are more effective than hirudin, a blood-thinning molecule derived from the salivary juices of leeches, which is occasionally used in clinical settings.

— vanessa zainzinger, Science | AAAS, "Mosquito spit can bust blood clots in mice," 10 Apr. 2018