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
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Lithium refining is expensive and technologically complex, and most of the world’s midstream processing capacity remains concentrated in China, meaning Chinese firms dominate not only mining but also the chemical refining stage where much of the value is captured.
—Ray Mwayera, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
Graduate students in tie-dye shirts worked under fume hoods; on the glass that protected them from chemicals, synthesis reactions were scribbled in black marker.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chemical
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Adjective
There were beakers everywhere, full of chemical reagents such as sodium hydrosulfite and inorganic bases.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
Lithium refining is expensive and technologically complex, and most of the world’s midstream processing capacity remains concentrated in China, meaning Chinese firms dominate not only mining but also the chemical refining stage where much of the value is captured.
—Ray Mwayera, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
The device was developed by scientists at Rice University and relies on bacteria that naturally produce electrical signals in response to certain chemicals, known as analytes.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
Graduate students in tie-dye shirts worked under fume hoods; on the glass that protected them from chemicals, synthesis reactions were scribbled in black marker.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chemical
Cite this Entry
“Chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemical. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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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