methane

noun

meth·​ane ˈme-ˌthān How to pronounce methane (audio)
 British usually  ˈmē-
: a colorless odorless flammable gaseous hydrocarbon CH4 that is a product of biological decomposition of organic matter and of the carbonization of coal, is used as a fuel and as a starting material in chemical synthesis, and is the simplest of the alkanes

Examples of methane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once on the methane moon, they were finally shown exactly what the job was. Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing rolling back what's known as the endangerment finding, the basis for rules regulating climate pollution, including from coal and gas-fired power plants, cars and trucks, and methane from the oil and gas industry. Julia Simon, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025 The study also found these companies are responsible for 50% of the increase in heat wave intensity since before humans started adding so much planet-warming carbon and methane pollution to the atmosphere. Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025 Nine of the company’s Archimedes engines, fueled by liquid methane and liquid oxygen, will power the first stage skyward. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for methane

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of methane was in 1867

Cite this Entry

“Methane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methane. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

methane

noun
meth·​ane ˈmeth-ˌān How to pronounce methane (audio)
: a colorless odorless flammable gas that consists of carbon and hydrogen and is produced by decay of organic matter

Medical Definition

methane

noun
meth·​ane
ˈmeth-ˌān, British usually ˈmē-ˌthān
: a colorless, odorless, flammable, gaseous hydrocarbon CH4 that is lighter than air, forms explosive mixtures with air or oxygen, and occurs naturally as a by-product of the decomposition of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria

called also marsh gas

More from Merriam-Webster on methane

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