variants
or chiefly British sulphur
chemistry
: a yellow chemical element that has a strong, unpleasant odor when it is burned and that is used in making paper, gunpowder, medicine, etc.
Usage Discussion of sulfur
In U.S. English, the spelling sulfur is chiefly used in technical writing, while both sulfur and sulphur are common in general writing.
Cite this Entry
“Sulfur.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/sulfur. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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