# nitrate

/ˈnaɪˌtɹeɪt/ (US) · /nˈaɪtɹeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nitrate
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a chemical compound often found in soil and used in fertilizers to help plants grow. You might also see it mentioned as a preservative in foods like bacon or ham.

For teachers: a salt or ester of nitric acid, containing the NO3− group. Commonly utilized in agricultural fertilizers and as a food preservative to inhibit bacterial growth.

## Examples

- Farmers use nitrates to help their crops grow faster.
- High levels of nitrate in the local well water suggested that fertilizer from nearby farms was leaking into the ground.
- The industrial synthesis of nitrates revolutionized global agriculture by providing a reliable source of nitrogen, though excessive runoff now poses significant threats to aquatic ecosystems through eutrophication.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the chemical substance in general; countable when referring to specific chemical varieties or salts.

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