sulfate

American  

[suhl-feyt] / ˈsʌl feɪt /

noun

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

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verb (used with object)

sulfated, sulfating

1. to combine, treat, or impregnate with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or sulfates.

2. to convert into a sulfate.

3. Electricity. to form a deposit of lead-sulfate compound on (the lead electrodes of a storage battery).

verb (used without object)

sulfated, sulfating

1. to become sulfated.

sulfate Scientific  

/ sŭl′fāt′ /

1. A salt or ester of sulfuric acid, containing the group SO ₄.

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Other Word Forms

• sulfation noun
• supersulfate noun

Etymology

Origin of sulfate

From the New Latin word sulphātum, dating back to 1780–90. See sulfur, -ate ²

Example Sentences

Sulfur is abundant on Mars and commonly combines with other elements to create sulfate minerals.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 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 findings were published in Science Signaling in a paper titled "Leukocytes have a heparan sulfate glycocalyx that regulates recruitment during psoriasis-like skin inflammation."

From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2026

First, B. thetaiotaomicron produces enzymes that remove sulfate groups attached to mucin.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

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