methanol

noun

meth·​a·​nol ˈme-thə-ˌnȯl 

-ˌnōl

: a light volatile flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH₃OH used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethanol and in the synthesis of other chemicals

Examples of methanol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The person had methanol in their system, the very poisonous main ingredient in wiper fluid. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 29 July 2025

There's been quite a lot of methanol engines sold by now in the container space. —New Atlas, 21 June 2025

While methanol can be inadvertently produced during the brewing process, The Guardian reported it’s often illegally added to drinks to help increase the alcohol content. —Becca Longmire, People.com, 27 May 2025

Many are volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, such as acetone, methanol, and glycols like 2-butoxyethanol. —Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for methanol

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol

Kids Definition

methanol

noun

meth·​a·​nol ˈmeth-ə-ˌnȯl 

-ˌnōl

: a light flammable poisonous liquid alcohol that consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and is used especially as antifreeze and to dissolve things

Medical Definition

methanol

noun

meth·​a·​nol ˈmeth-ə-ˌnȯl  -ˌnōl 

: a light volatile pungent flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH₃OH formed in the destructive distillation of wood or made synthetically and used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethanol and in the synthesis of other chemicals

called also carbinol, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol