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. ); see ammoniac

Compare meaning

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

• ammonia vs. ammonium
• ammonia vs. pneumonia

Explanation

If you've ever used household cleaning products to tidy up your kitchen or bathroom, you've probably encountered ammonia — a pungent gas made of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH₃), known for its strong smell and, when mixed with water, its powerful cleaning abilities. Ammonia is a colorless gas with a sharp, intense odor, widely used in both household and industrial settings. Beyond its role in cleaning products, where it’s prized for cutting through tough grime, ammonia is also a key ingredient in fertilizers, helping plants grow strong and healthy. Despite its benefits, exposure to ammonia can be irritating to the eyes and the respiratory system, so it’s important to handle it with care.

Example Sentences

This caused ammonia prices to double, and food inflation exceeded 6% in the fall of 2008.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

The appeal says the site is near industrial facilities, including a warehouse with ammonia refrigeration, which "creates significant health risks for occupants".

From BBC • May 27, 2026

About half of the world’s agricultural nitrogen-based urea fertilizer supply passes through the strait, along with 30% of global ammonia exports.

From Salon • May 15, 2026

At SKW's sprawling 220-hectare site, a 23-kilometre rail network transports urea, ammonia and finished fertilisers, destined for sites across Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

From Barron's • May 3, 2026

“Well, not technically allergic, but they give me digestive issues that, um...You know like when tiny amounts of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane combine with hydrogen sulfide and ammonia in the large intestine?”

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas