methylmercury

American

[meth-uhl-mur-kyuh-ree] / ˌmɛθ əlˈmɜr kjə ri /

noun

Chemistry.

any of several extremely toxic organometallic compounds, Hg(CH3 ) 2 , formed from metallic mercury by the action of microorganisms and capable of entering the food chain: used as seed disinfectants.

Etymology

Origin of methylmercury

First recorded in 1915–20; methyl + mercury

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

methylmercury

Her research shows that sea otters can accumulate high levels of methylmercury, a toxic form of mercury.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 30, 2026

Exposure studies usually test for methylmercury, a powerful neurotoxin formed when bacteria, in this case in rivers, metabolize inorganic mercury.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2024

Mercury entering marine ecosystems is converted into methylmercury, the most dangerous form of the chemical.

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2024

Of the 13 metals and two classes of chemicals tested, three contaminants surpassed federal and local standards at varying levels of fish consumption: mercury, or methylmercury; polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs; and dioxins/furans.

From Salon ● Nov. 23, 2022

Mercury exists in several forms; the types people are usually exposed to are methylmercury and elemental mercury.

From Textbooks ● Sep. 6, 2018

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023