sulfite: Meaning and Definition of

sul•fite

Pronunciation: (sul'fīt), [key]
— n. Chem.
  1. a salt or ester of sulfurous acid.
  2. any sulfite-containing compound, esp. one that is used in foods or drug products as a preservative and that can cause severe allergic reactions in susceptible individuals: use in fresh fruits and vegetables banned by the FDA in 1986.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.