ferrous

adjective

fer·​rous ˈfer-əs How to pronounce ferrous (audio)
ˈfe-rəs
1
: of, relating to, or containing iron
2
: being or containing divalent iron

Examples of ferrous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The supplement contains a form of iron called ferrous gluconate, which is less bioavailable. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 Factors to Consider When Selecting an Iron Supplement When choosing an iron supplement for pregnancy, several factors should be taken into consideration: Type of Iron: Look for supplements that contain elemental iron in forms such as ferrous fumarate or ferrous sulfate. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2023 When choosing an iron supplement, check the label and opt for one that contains either ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2023 On the other hand, ferrous gluconate may have a lower absorption rate but tends to cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2023 But much like a steel needle (and unlike most ocean-bottom debris), meteoritic fragments tend to contain ferrous material. Amir Siraj, Scientific American, 5 July 2023 The raw materials segment produces DRI; brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron, hot briquetted iron and DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal. Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 4 May 2023 There are two main types of iron: ferrous and non-ferrous. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022 The rest of the stream then passes under overhead magnets, which collect items made of ferrous metals, and an eddy-current-inducing machine, which jolts nonferrous metals to another collection area. IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ferrous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin ferrosus, from Latin ferrum

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ferrous was in 1755

Dictionary Entries Near ferrous

Cite this Entry

“Ferrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferrous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ferrous

adjective
fer·​rous ˈfer-əs How to pronounce ferrous (audio)
: of, relating to, or containing iron

Medical Definition

ferrous

adjective
fer·​rous ˈfer-əs How to pronounce ferrous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or containing iron
2
: being or containing iron with a valence of two
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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