ammonia

American  

[uh-mohn-yuh, uh-moh-nee-uh] / əˈmoʊn yə, əˈmoʊ ni ə /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, pungent, suffocating, highly water-soluble, gaseous compound, NH 3 , usually produced by the direct combination of nitrogen and hydrogen gases: used chiefly for refrigeration and in the manufacture of commercial chemicals and laboratory reagents.

2. Also called ammonia water.  Also called aqueous ammonia,.  Also called ammonia solution,.  this gas dissolved in water; ammonium hydroxide.

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ammonia British  

/ -njə, əˈməʊnɪə /

noun

1. a colourless pungent highly soluble gas mainly used in the manufacture of fertilizers, nitric acid, and other nitrogenous compounds, and as a refrigerant and solvent. Formula: NH 3

2. a solution of ammonia in water, containing the compound ammonium hydroxide

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ammonia Scientific  

/ ə-mōn′yə /

1. A colorless alkaline gas that is lighter than air and has a strongly pungent odor. It is used as a fertilizer and refrigerant, in medicine, and in making dyes, textiles, plastics, and explosives. Chemical formula: NH ₃ .

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Etymology

Origin of ammonia

First recorded in 1790–1800; from New Latin, so called as being obtained from sal ammoniac ( def. ); ammoniac

Compare meaning

How does ammonia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• ammonia vs. ammonium
• ammonia vs. pneumonia

Example Sentences

The Middle East accounts for about 20% of the global ammonia trade and 38% of the global urea trade, two of the most widely used nitrogen fertilizers, according to the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

While the vast majority of liquid nitrogen and ammonia is domestically produced, the U.S. imports about half of its urea, making it susceptible to the Middle East supply shock.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

According to the United Nations around a third of the world's fertilisers - such as urea, potash, ammonia and phosphates - normally pass through the Hormuz Strait.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Since February, contract prices have risen for ammonia and potash by 6% and 2%, respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The ammonia reek of human urine rises from a nearby oleander hedge.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer