sulfate
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
-
to combine, treat, or impregnate with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or sulfates.
-
to convert into a sulfate.
-
Electricity. to form a deposit of lead-sulfate compound on (the lead electrodes of a storage battery).
verb (used without object)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sulfate
From the New Latin word sulphātum, dating back to 1780–90. See sulfur, -ate 2
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.
See Examples For:
The ban sent mining firms scrambling to build plants to process lithium sulfate, a step along the value chain towards battery‑grade materials.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Scientists also recorded higher levels of other firework-related pollutants, including fine particulate matter and sulfate and potassium ions.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 4, 2026
It will reportedly be the first factory in Africa to refine lithium concentrate into lithium sulfate -- a powdered form that is one step closer to the product used in batteries.
From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026
"The baddies that you want to look out for… is your mineral oil, your sodium lauryl sulfate, parfum, benzel peroxide" being high up on the ingredients list, Miss Truman says.
From BBC ● Dec. 13, 2025
The treatment is bed rest, which he desperately needs anyway, injections of zinc sulfate, and quinine tablets.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
Beneath them lie layers of monohydrated sulfates and ferric hydroxysulfate.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026
Polyhydrated and monohydrated sulfates appear across large areas of the region.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026
The transformation from hydrated ferrous sulfates to ferric hydroxysulfate occurs only when temperatures exceed 100°C, far hotter than typical Martian surface conditions.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026
The team found preserved biosignatures, including calcium and sodium sulfates.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 18, 2024
The salts are sulfates, phosphates and chlorides of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
From Common Diseases of Farm Animals by Craig, R. A., D. V. M.
And even if your diploma is written in Latin it is likely to be made of sulfated cellulose.
From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.
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.
