ethyl chloride

noun

: a colorless pungent flammable gaseous or volatile liquid C2H5Cl used especially as a topical anesthetic

Examples of ethyl chloride in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Outside the sports world, physicians sometimes use sprays like ethyl chloride to numb an injection site before inserting a needle. Angela Yang, NBC News, 2 Dec. 2022 Chloroethane is also known as ethyl chloride, a colorless, flammable gas typically used in gasoline additives and plastics that is also sometimes used as a recreational inhalant drug. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2022 Chloroethane, also known as ethyl chloride, is used as a solvent, refrigerant and local anesthetic, the IFS said in a statement. Mike Morris, Houston Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ethyl chloride.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethyl chloride was in 1860

Dictionary Entries Near ethyl chloride

Cite this Entry

“Ethyl chloride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethyl%20chloride. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

ethyl chloride

noun
: a colorless pungent flammable gaseous or volatile liquid C2H5Cl used especially as a topical anesthetic

More from Merriam-Webster on ethyl chloride

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