sulfurous

American  

[suhl-fyoor-uhs, suhl-fer-] / sʌlˈfyʊər əs, ˈsʌl fər- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or containing sulfur, especially in the tetravalent state.

2. of the yellow color of sulfur.

3. sulphurous.

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sulfurous Scientific  

/ sŭl′fər-əs,sŭl-fyr′əs /

1. Containing sulfur, especially sulfur with a valence of 4 or 3.

2. Compare sulfuric

3. Characteristic of or emanating from burning sulfur.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsulfurous adjective
• sulfurously adverb
• sulfurousness noun

Etymology

Origin of sulfurous

From the Latin word sulfurōsus, dating back to 1520–30. See sulfur, -ous

Example Sentences

That heavy, sulfurous blend usually fetches a sharp discount to U.S. benchmark prices, but it’s also suddenly more in demand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

A tangle of light above a black silhouette of a palm tree emits a sulfurous glow, its nauseous beauty balanced on the tip of potential annihilation.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

Sulfuric acid forms in the atmosphere from various sulfurous substances.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

Visitors often compare the smell of the sulfurous water in the springs to rotten eggs.

From Seattle Times • May 2, 2024

The air smelled fresher—or at least not quite as sulfurous.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan