1. Salts or esters of orthophosphoric acid (phosphoric acid), containing the phosphate ion PO₄³⁻ or its derivatives; commonly used in fertilizers, detergents, and food additives.
Usage: chemistry; plural form; technical term

Examples

• Orthophosphates are widely used in agricultural fertilizers to provide essential phosphorus to crops.
• The water treatment plant monitors orthophosphate levels to prevent algal blooms in the reservoir.
• Calcium orthophosphates are key components in bone and tooth structure.
• Many detergents contain orthophosphates as builders to improve cleaning efficiency.
• The laboratory analyzed the soil samples for orthophosphate concentration.
• Orthophosphates dissolve readily in water, making them useful in various industrial applications.