bromide

American  

[broh-mahyd, broh-mid] / ˈbroʊ maɪd, ˈbroʊ mɪd /

noun

1. Chemistry.

   1. a salt of hydrobromic acid consisting of two elements, one of which is bromine, as sodium bromide, NaBr.

   2. a compound containing bromine, as methyl bromide.

2. Pharmacology. potassium bromide, known to produce central nervous system depression, formerly used as a sedative.

3. a platitude or trite saying.

4. a person who is platitudinous and boring.

---

bromide British  

/ ˈbrəʊmaɪd /

noun

1. any salt of hydrobromic acid, containing the monovalent ion Br ^– ( bromide ion )

2. any compound containing a bromine atom, such as methyl bromide

3. a dose of sodium or potassium bromide given as a sedative

4. 1. a trite saying; platitude

   2. a dull or boring person

---

bromide Scientific  

/ brō′mīd′ /

1. A compound, such as potassium bromide, containing bromine and another element or radical.

---

Other Word Forms

• subbromide noun

Etymology

Origin of bromide

First recorded in 1830–40; brom- + -ide ( def. ); bromide in defs. 3, 4 from use of some bromides as sedatives

Example Sentences

The preferred bromide tends to be lower interest rates.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Last year, a nutritionist ended up hospitalized after taking ChatGPT’s advice to replace salt in his diet with sodium bromide.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2026

Altman then continued with an Elon Musk-like bromide, in that the value of going public is to shut up critics who would bet against the stock.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 3, 2025

The company also had to recall more than 135,000 vials of vecuronium bromide, a muscle relaxer used during surgery, after reports that the medication contained glass particles.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2025

He went into the bathroom and measured three teaspoons of elixir of bromide into a glass and added water until the red medicine was pink.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• cliché