What does sulphureous mean?
Sulphureous is an adjective describing something that contains sulphur or has the characteristic pungent smell associated with it. Its most distinctive application is to odours, vapours, gases, and mineral deposits that evoke the sharp scent of sulphur, burning brimstone, and volcanic activity. The word can also be used more generally in a chemical or geological sense to describe material containing or associated with sulphur. Although still encountered in formal writing, especially descriptions of minerals, volcanoes, and historical events involving sulphur, it is much less common than the simpler terms sulphurous or sulfur-containing. The spelling sulphureous belongs chiefly to British and older English usage, while sulfurous is the usual modern American spelling. For general readers, the word is useful because it gives both scientific description and vivid sensory associations to substances associated with sulphur.
adjectiveHaving the characteristic pungent smell of sulphur, especially the sharp odour associated with sulphur compounds. More generally, it means containing or concerning sulphur.
- Having a pungent smell characteristic of sulphur or sulphur compounds.
- Containing, consisting of, or concerning sulphur.
"A sulphureous breeze drifted through the volcanic ravine."
"The sulphureous odour made the passage through the cavern almost unbearable."
"The mineral was heated until it released a thin, sulphureous vapour."
Sulphureous captures the sharp, unmistakable scent of sulphur and volcanic fumes in a single evocative word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sulphureous come from?
Sulphureous belongs to the English word family based on Latin sulphur, meaning “sulfur,” with French sulphureux or sulfureux providing historically related forms. The British spelling sulphureous preserves the traditional sulph- form, while sulfurous is now more common, especially in American English. Its basic sense of “of, containing, or smelling like sulphur” developed from this long-established chemical and mineral vocabulary.
How sulphureous is actually used
This is a relatively rare, formal or literary word. British spelling is traditional, although sulfurous is more common in American usage.
Easily confused with sulphureous
Sulphureous and sulfurous are variant spellings of the same adjective; sulfurous is the usual spelling in American English.
Sulphureous describes a sulphur-like smell or the presence of sulphur, whereas sulphuric refers specifically to compounds containing sulphur in the +6 oxidation state, as in sulphuric acid.