sulfur dioxide

noun

: a heavy pungent toxic gas SO₂ that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant especially in industrial areas

Examples of sulfur dioxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the shutdown, two workers were injured in a fire and the refinery repeatedly released hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide into the air and benzene into Sand Creek, which flows along the refinery’s northeastern border. —Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024

Because right now, there's nobody to stop you from sending a weather balloon up and throwing some sulfur dioxide into the air. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2024

In 1991 the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines blasted more than 15 million tons of sulfur dioxide 21 miles high. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2024

These regions, which have rapidly industrialized over the past four decades, have seen a two- to fourfold increase in sulfur dioxide and black carbon emissions since the 1970s. —Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sulfur dioxide

noun

: a heavy strong-smelling gas that is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, in preserving things, and as a refrigerant and that is a major substance in air pollution especially in industrial areas

Medical Definition

sulfur dioxide

noun

: a heavy pungent toxic gas SO₂ that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant especially in industrial areas