hydrocarbon
noun
hy·dro·car·bon
ˈhī-drō-ˌkär-bən 
: an organic compound (such as acetylene or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens
Examples of hydrocarbon in a Sentence
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With this technique, engineers could efficiently split water into hydrogen or convert carbon dioxide into hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Going forward, higher prices, coupled with the kingdom’s ability to ensure a big chunk of hydrocarbon exports still reach customers via the East-West pipeline, will probably more than offset the lost barrels.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
For example, wildfires often release heavy metals like lead into the atmosphere, along with aromatic hydrocarbons and other pollutants.
—Joanna Thompson, Space.com, 12 May 2026
Venezuela and the Caribbean nation — who in the 1990s signed a delimitation treaty establishing the terms for exploiting any hydrocarbon deposits on both sides of the border strip — share the Gulf of Paria, an inland sea at Venezuela’s westernmost end and south of the island of Trinidad.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
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Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
Going forward, higher prices, coupled with the kingdom’s ability to ensure a big chunk of hydrocarbon exports still reach customers via the East-West pipeline, will probably more than offset the lost barrels.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 14 May 2026
For example, wildfires often release heavy metals like lead into the atmosphere, along with aromatic hydrocarbons and other pollutants.
—Joanna Thompson, Space.com, 12 May 2026
Venezuela and the Caribbean nation — who in the 1990s signed a delimitation treaty establishing the terms for exploiting any hydrocarbon deposits on both sides of the border strip — share the Gulf of Paria, an inland sea at Venezuela’s westernmost end and south of the island of Trinidad.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hydrocarbon
Cite this Entry
“Hydrocarbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrocarbon. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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hydrocarbon
noun
hy·dro·car·bon
ˌhī-drə-ˈkär-bən
: a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
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