chem·i·cal
ˈke-mi-kəl 
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry
chemical reactions
2
a
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
a chemical fire extinguisher
b
: detectable by chemical means
1
: a substance obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect
2
Examples of chemical in a Sentence
Adjective
They studied the compound's chemical structure.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination; Amy Yurkanin, Al.com; John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
The practice, known as cloud seeding, involves spraying chemical compounds into the air in an effort to wring more rain out of the sky.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
There have been flare-ups, including a chemical attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University in New York in January.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
There is also video evidence of rioters carrying everything from stun guns, knives and batons to chemical irritants spray, sticks or even flags used to stab or strike any number of officers trying to protect the building that day.
—Will McDuffie, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
The newspaper also joked about rats exposing State Department divides over strategic weaponry: conventional broom and mop, or chemical agents.
—Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2024
Aging is an accumulation of chemical damage to the molecules inside our cells, which damages the cells themselves, and therefore the tissue, and then eventually us as an organism.
—Jessica Dulong, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The action updates several regulations on chemical plant emissions that have not been tightened in nearly two decades.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds most of which have some therapeutic benefits in treating certain health conditions.
—All Cbd Naturals, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Mike Snider, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024
Seven different herbicide chemicals were applied in July and August 2023 at Aliso Viejo Community Park, Pinewood Park, Brookline Park and Argonaut Park; six were sprayed at Hummingbird Park, Glenbrook Park, and Sheephills Park, according to McCuan.
—Scott Schwebke, Orange County Register, 19 Apr. 2024
Its chemical cousins delta-8 is already here — and making some people sick.
—John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Digging it out by hand or using professional chemical control can stem infestations.
—Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
But some health advocacy groups that argue otherwise are petitioning the US Food and Drug Administration to ban a key chemical involved in the decaffeination process due to cancer concerns.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Some researchers think that the volatiles came from underground relatively recently, while others think the chemicals have persisted on the surface since an embryonic Mercury condensed from its protoplanetary disk.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
Under the new rule, hundreds of chemical plants will have to install monitoring for six hazardous chemicals at the fence line and share their data publicly online.
—Ava Kofman, ProPublica, 16 Apr. 2024
The Biden administration and drug policy experts say China is the primary source of precursor chemicals used by Mexican drug gangs to manufacture the powerful street opioid.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The products are made by chemical synthesis that can take place anywhere from a seller’s basement to a manufacturing plant.
—Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination; Amy Yurkanin, Al.com; John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
The practice, known as cloud seeding, involves spraying chemical compounds into the air in an effort to wring more rain out of the sky.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
There have been flare-ups, including a chemical attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University in New York in January.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
There is also video evidence of rioters carrying everything from stun guns, knives and batons to chemical irritants spray, sticks or even flags used to stab or strike any number of officers trying to protect the building that day.
—Will McDuffie, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
The newspaper also joked about rats exposing State Department divides over strategic weaponry: conventional broom and mop, or chemical agents.
—Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2024
Aging is an accumulation of chemical damage to the molecules inside our cells, which damages the cells themselves, and therefore the tissue, and then eventually us as an organism.
—Jessica Dulong, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The action updates several regulations on chemical plant emissions that have not been tightened in nearly two decades.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds most of which have some therapeutic benefits in treating certain health conditions.
—All Cbd Naturals, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
The unofficial holiday involves a celebration of pot in its various forms, including a growing category of edibles and drinks infused with THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol), two chemicals found in the marijuana and hemp plants.
—Mike Snider, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024
Seven different herbicide chemicals were applied in July and August 2023 at Aliso Viejo Community Park, Pinewood Park, Brookline Park and Argonaut Park; six were sprayed at Hummingbird Park, Glenbrook Park, and Sheephills Park, according to McCuan.
—Scott Schwebke, Orange County Register, 19 Apr. 2024
Its chemical cousins delta-8 is already here — and making some people sick.
—John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024
Digging it out by hand or using professional chemical control can stem infestations.
—Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
But some health advocacy groups that argue otherwise are petitioning the US Food and Drug Administration to ban a key chemical involved in the decaffeination process due to cancer concerns.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Some researchers think that the volatiles came from underground relatively recently, while others think the chemicals have persisted on the surface since an embryonic Mercury condensed from its protoplanetary disk.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
Under the new rule, hundreds of chemical plants will have to install monitoring for six hazardous chemicals at the fence line and share their data publicly online.
—Ava Kofman, ProPublica, 16 Apr. 2024
The Biden administration and drug policy experts say China is the primary source of precursor chemicals used by Mexican drug gangs to manufacture the powerful street opioid.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chemical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chemical
Cite this Entry
“Chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemical. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chemical
1 of 2 adjective
chem·i·cal
ˈkem-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
chemical
2 of 2 noun
: a substance (as an element or compound) obtained from a chemical process or used to get a chemical result
Medical Definition
chemical
1 of 2 adjective
chem·i·cal
ˈkem-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
a
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
b
: detectable by chemical means
chemical
2 of 2 noun1
: a substance (as an element or chemical compound) obtained by a chemical process or used for producing a chemical effect
2
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