sulfur dioxide

noun

: a heavy pungent toxic gas SO2 that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant especially in industrial areas

Examples of sulfur dioxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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When air pollution in the form of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, particulate matter and mercury spew from fossil fuel burning power plants, the health of communities living nearby are at risk, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025 One downside of Oza’s model, Kipping notes, is that any fluctuations in the levels of sulfur dioxide, sodium and potassium observed on WASP-39b can be easily explained away as variability in eruptions. Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025 Researchers focused on the levels of sulfur dioxide present before symptoms of ALS began to appear, compared to levels taken in the years before a diagnosis was made, according to the paper. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025 Ejecta from its innermost large, volcano-rich moon, Io, populates this inner magnetosphere with sulfur dioxide gas, where the magnetic field forces this material to co-rotate with Jupiter itself in a torus-like shape. Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sulfur dioxide

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sulfur dioxide was in 1869

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Cite this Entry

“Sulfur dioxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfur%20dioxide. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sulfur dioxide

noun
: a heavy strong-smelling gas that is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, in preserving things, and as a refrigerant and that is a major substance in air pollution especially in industrial areas

Medical Definition

sulfur dioxide

noun
: a heavy pungent toxic gas SO2 that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant especially in industrial areas

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