nitrogen
Americannoun
noun
-
A nonmetallic element that makes up about 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume, occurring as a colorless, odorless gas. It is a component of all proteins, making it essential for life, and it is also found in various minerals. Nitrogen is used to make ammonia, nitric acid, TNT, and fertilizers. Atomic number 7; atomic weight 14.0067; melting point −209.86°C; boiling point −195.8°C; valence 3, 5.
-
See Periodic Table See Note at oxygen
Discover More
Like carbon, nitrogen is a necessary element in the tissues of living things.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of nitrogen
First recorded in 1785–95; from French nitrogène; see origin at nitro-, -gen
Vocabulary lists containing nitrogen
Earth and the Solar System - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Space Science (Astronomy) - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 1, Week 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Longer-term fixes would have to address what makes the Reflecting Pool so ideal for algae, such as its depth, darker color and inflow of nitrogen and phosphorus.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026
CF Industries is the most direct loser because it mainly produces nitrogen fertilizers like urea and ammonia, whose prices would be falling as the Middle East’s supply flow restores following the reopening of Hormuz.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
Alabama has executed seven people using nitrogen gas since introducing the method in January 2024, one of the few states to do so.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
The French industrial-gases company signed a long-term contract with SK Hynix and will operate a nitrogen unit by late 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
The nitrogen for the fields would no longer be made with the sun’s energy but with fossil fuels.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.