gasoline

noun

gas·​o·​line ˈga-sə-ˌlēn How to pronounce gasoline (audio)
ˌga-sə-ˈlēn,
 also  -zə-
variants or less commonly gasolene
: a volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture used as a fuel especially for internal combustion engines and usually blended from several products of natural gas and petroleum
gasolinic adjective

Examples of gasoline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Costco sells fresh and packaged foods, household and pharmacy staples, electronics, furniture, and clothing, from both name brands and Kirkland Signature, the company’s private label, which appears on everything from golf clubs to gasoline. Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025 Play it safe and avoid excess heat, flames, and sparks when handling gasoline. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025 According to court records, Djerf splashed gasoline on the Luna family members' bodies and throughout the house, turned on some of the kitchen stove burners and placed an empty pizza box and a rag on the stove before leaving. Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 18 Oct. 2025 The oil facility struck overnight is one of Russia’s largest, as Kyiv continues its attacks on energy infrastructure, causing gasoline shortages across the country. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gasoline

Word History

Etymology

gas entry 1 + -ol entry 2 + -ine entry 2 or -ene

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gasoline was in 1865

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gasoline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gasoline. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

gasoline

noun
gas·​o·​line ˈgas-ə-ˌlēn How to pronounce gasoline (audio)
ˌgas-ə-ˈlēn
: a flammable liquid produced usually by blending products from natural gas and petroleum and used especially as a fuel for engines

More from Merriam-Webster on gasoline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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