phosphonitrile

P3H4O1S1P3H4O1N1I1T1R1I1L1E1

noun

any of many polymeric compounds of general formula (X₂PN)ₙ where X is an electronegative group such as halogen or alkoxy

OriginEnglish nitrile ← Latin phōsphorus ← Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros) →
Scrabble 24
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounphosphonitrile (plural phosphonitriles)

plural phosphonitriles

  1. chemistryany of many polymeric compounds of general formula (X₂PN)ₙ where X is an electronegative group such as halogen or alkoxy

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωσφόρος (phōsphóros)
  7. Latinphōsphorus
  8. Englishphosphorus
  9. Englishphospho-
  10. Englishnitrile
  11. Englishphosphonitrile

From phospho- + nitrile.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

phosphonitrile. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphonitrile

MLA

“phosphonitrile.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphonitrile. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phosphonitrile,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphonitrile.

Source: phosphonitrile on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.