brimstone

IPA/ˈbrɪmstəʊn/
KK[brˈɪmston]IPA/ˈbrɪmstəʊn/

brimstone — noun

1. an old word for sulfur, especially in religious writing and older stories

1.nounC1
Definition

an old word for sulfur, especially in religious writing and older stories

Example

The old priest warned that brimstone would fall on the evil city.

literary religious context

Yellow brimstone lay in bright cracks near the mouth of the volcano.

natural occurrence context

Common collocations
  • fire and brimstone
  • brimstone smoke
  • the smell of brimstone
Synonyms
  • sulfur

    the standard modern spelling in American English and in scientific writing

  • sulphur

    the traditional British spelling used in many older texts

Usage Note

Brimstone is an old-fashioned word. Modern English usually uses sulfur or sulphur instead, while brimstone is mostly kept for religious language, historical writing, or dramatic style.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words point to the same yellow chemical element, but they belong in different settings. Sulfur is the normal modern spelling in American English and the form used in science. Sulphur is the older British spelling that still appears in many books and labels. Brimstone is much older and sounds strongly literary, religious, or dramatic. You often meet it in phrases such as 'fire and brimstone' or in Bible-related writing, not in chemistry lessons. If you are talking about the element in modern life, sulfur or sulphur is the safer choice. Use brimstone when the older tone is part of the meaning you want.

brimstone ↗sulfur ↗sulphur ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • fire and brimstone
  • the smell of brimstone

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Brimstone comes from Old English brynstan, which meant 'burning stone'. The name reflects how sulfur burns and the strong smell people noticed when it was heated. Modern English kept the old word mainly in religious and literary language, while sulfur and sulphur became the usual everyday and scientific forms.