hydrazine

noun

hy·​dra·​zine ˈhī-drə-ˌzēn 

: a colorless fuming corrosive strongly reducing liquid base N₂H₄ used especially in fuels for rocket and jet engines

also : an organic base derived from this compound

Examples of hydrazine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The four propellant tanks on Blue Ghost are arranged in a diagonal configuration, with two containing hydrazine fuel and two holding an oxidizer called nitrogen tetroxide. —Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against the company in the years since it was recalled, alleging that the company's alkaline water contained a toxic chemical known as hydrazine, which is used in rocket fuel, that led to severe illness and sometimes death when consumed. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025

These circuits would then fire hydrazine thrusters to correct the spacecraft’s orientation. —Viktor T. Toth, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Nov. 2012

Like other engines in the Leros line, the Leros 4 consumes a bipropellant mix of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, which combust when coming into contact with one another. —Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hydrazine

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids Definition

hydrazine

noun

hy·​dra·​zine ˈhī-drə-ˌzēn 

: a colorless fuming liquid used especially in fuels for rocket engines

Medical Definition

hydrazine

noun

hy·​dra·​zine ˈhī-drə-ˌzēn 

: a colorless fuming corrosive strongly reducing liquid base N₂H₄ used in the production of various materials (as pharmaceuticals and plastics)

also : an organic base derived from this compound