sylvite

noun

syl·vite ˈsil-ˌvīt

variants or less commonly sylvine

ˈsil-ˌvēn

: a mineral that is a natural potassium chloride and occurs in colorless cubes or crystalline masses

Word History

Etymology

alteration of sylvine, from French, from New Latin sal digestivus Sylvii digestive salt of Sylvius, from Sylvius latinized name of Jacques Dubois †1555 French physician

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sylvite was in 1868

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

sylvinite

sylvite

sym

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sylvite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sylvite. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deliquesce

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Popular in Wordplay

sylvite

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on sylvite

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?