Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for sulfite. Search instead for sulfites.

sulfite

American  
[suhl-fahyt] / ˈsʌl faɪt /

noun

Chemistry.
  1. a salt or ester of sulfurous acid.

  2. any sulfite-containing compound, especially one that is used in foods or drug products as a preservative and that can cause severe allergic reactions in susceptible individuals: use in fresh fruits and vegetables banned by the FDA in 1986.


sulfite Scientific  
/ sŭl′fīt′ /
  1. A salt or ester of sulfurous acid, containing the group SO 3.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of sulfite

First recorded in 1780–90; sulf(ur) + -ite 1


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:

To do so, it has compounds called sulfite oxidases that create sulfate from sulfite – the 20 milligrams in a glass of wine are unlikely to overwhelm your sulfite oxidases.

From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2024

Frozen shrimp may contain preservatives like sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium bisulfite, which people with sulfite or phosphate sensitivities may want to avoid.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

By contrast, as geological evidence indicates, there was very little oxygen in early Earth's atmosphere, which could have allowed sulfite to accumulate and last much longer.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2024

To make the humanmade version, the team first softened thin strips of oak by boiling them with lye and sodium sulfite.

From Science Magazine ● Feb. 15, 2023

A combination of ground and sulfite wood makes the paper now used for news-print.

From How To Write Special Feature Articles A Handbook for Reporters, Correspondents and Free-Lance Writers Who Desire to Contribute to Popular Magazines and Magazine Sections of Newspapers by Willard Grosvenor Bleyer

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com