chemical

1 of 2

adjective

chem·​i·​cal ˈke-mi-kəl How to pronounce chemical (audio)
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
chemically adverb

chemical

2 of 2

noun

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
Adjective
And of course, the plumbing didn't much care for being in two positions, so chemical toilets were the rule of the day – although this was later changed during refits. David Szondy, New Atlas, 12 July 2024 The patients in the study had a chemical imbalance that controlled how their T cells, a type of white blood cell that's part of the immune system, reacted to infection. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024
Noun
Some of the potentially harmful effects of certain essential oils include: Wintergreen Oil The active ingredient in this oil, methyl salicylate, is a chemical that acts the same way as aspirin in the body when applied topically. Alyssa Sybertz, Parents, 15 July 2024 Bleach is also toxic to fish and other aquatic life that can be harmed if the chemical washes into lakes, streams, or storm drains. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for chemical 

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.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

chemic or its source, Medieval Latin chimicus + -al entry 1

Noun

derivative of chemical entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemical was in 1576

Dictionary Entries Near chemical

Cite this Entry

“Chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemical. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

chemical

1 of 2 adjective
chem·​i·​cal ˈkem-i-kəl How to pronounce chemical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
chemically adverb

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 How to pronounce chemical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
a
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
b
: detectable by chemical means
chemically adverb

chemical

2 of 2 noun
1
: a substance (as an element or chemical compound) obtained by a chemical process or used for producing a chemical effect
2

More from Merriam-Webster on chemical

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!