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 system, known as electrolysis, produces hydrogen (H2) and CO2 that can be stored and used as feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and e-methanol for shipping. —Nino Paoli, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025

The next group is carbon-neutral fuels—biofuels and green methanol. —Michaila Byrne, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

Vietnamese police confirmed that the couple died from methanol poisoning. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025

The goal of many designers is to make cells that can use hydrogen, but they can also be configured to handle methanol, ethanol, natural gas, biogas, ammonia, and even carbon monoxide. —New Atlas, 15 Sep. 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