refinery

noun

re·​fin·​ery ri-ˈfī-nə-rē How to pronounce refinery (audio)
-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
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.
Serious gas shortages plague some Russian regions, after months of long-range Ukrainian strikes on refineries. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 The Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington — a Los Angeles neighborhood not far from the Chevron explosion — is set to close in December, while a Valero plant in Benicia — just southeast of Vallejo in the North Bay — will close next year. Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025 McKinley County's poor infrastructure reflects its disproportionately high poverty rate — triple the national average — stemming in part from the closings of mines, power plants and oil refineries. Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025 Most biodiesel producers sell it cheaply to refineries that process it into solketal, a step that involves energy-intensive methods and international shipping, adding to global emissions. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for refinery

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of refinery was circa 1741

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refinery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refinery. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

refinery

noun
re·​fin·​ery ri-ˈfīn-(ə-)rē How to pronounce refinery (audio)
plural refineries
: a building and equipment for refining metals, oil, or sugar

More from Merriam-Webster on refinery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!