refinery

noun

re·​fin·​ery ri-ˈfī-nə-rē 

-ˈfīn-rē

plural refineries

: a building and equipment for refining or processing something (such as oil or sugar)

Examples of refinery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chinese refineries have the most to lose if Venezuelan oil is kept off the market or redirected to the US; China also extended some $100 billion in credit to Venezuela on the expectation that it would be repaid in oil. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026

The country's oil is among the heaviest and most sulfur-laden in the world, and only a limited number of refineries are equipped to process it efficiently. —Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026

By the 1970s, America’s refineries were purpose-built for Venezuelan oil, according to Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at the Price Futures Group. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026

Our refineries in the Gulf Coast of the United States are the best in terms of refining the heavy crude. —ABC News, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for refinery

• binary
• finery
• winery

Kids Definition

refinery

noun

re·​fin·​ery ri-ˈfīn-(ə-)rē 

plural refineries

: a building and equipment for refining metals, oil, or sugar