English Reference

Word

chloride

Phoneticschlo·ride

US/ˈkɫɔɹaɪd/

UK/klˈɔːɹaɪd/

Definitions

01chemical compound

B2 · Science

n. a substance made when chlorine combines with another chemical element.

n. a binary compound of chlorine with another element or radical, typically a salt formed by the action of hydrochloric acid.

“Sodium chloride is the scientific name for the common salt we use in cooking.”

“The chemist analyzed the sample to determine the concentration of magnesium chloride present in the industrial runoff.”

Technical

Usage

Usually functions as a countable noun in a chemical context, but can be uncountable when referring to the substance generally.

02the ion

C1 · Science

n. a chlorine atom that has a negative charge.

n. the anionic form of chlorine (Cl⁻), which is a major electrolyte found in all body fluids.

“The doctor checked the level of chloride in the patient's blood test.”

“Chloride channels in the cell membrane play a crucial role in maintaining the electrical balance of the nervous system.”

Technical

Synonyms

chloride ion

Real-World Examples

“Sodium and chloride are the two main charged components of common salt.”
ScienceDaily · 1 Aug 2026
“Some of the toxic gases released during an explosion include phosphoryl fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen fluoride and carbon monoxide.”
Toronto Sun · 21 Aug 2026
“It is going to present itself as walking pneumonia.” Other gases released include  p hosphoryl fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide and  carbon monoxide .”
Toronto Sun · 21 Aug 2026

Etymology

From chlor(ine) + -ide, coined by British chemist Humphry Davy in 1812.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Chemistry

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference