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

Recent Examples on the Web

Consumers will seek alternative sources of hydrocarbons and accelerate investments in renewables. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026

The performance of hydrocarbons must be considered as part of a wider system that is simultaneously scaling clean electricity input and improving efficiency across the value chain. — H.e. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

The talks come as Paz faces protests over his decision to scrap fuel subsidies in a country that once exported natural gas to its neighbors but now struggles with fuel shortages and declining hydrocarbon production. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Owned by Nord Stream AG, whose majority shareholder is the Russian gas firm Gazprom, the pipelines were divisive even before the start of the Ukraine war, mainly due to concerns over European reliance on cheap Russian hydrocarbons. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hydrocarbon

• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
• polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon

Rhymes for hydrocarbon

• fluorocarbon
• carbon
• radiocarbon

Kids Definition

hydrocarbon

noun

hy·​dro·​car·​bon ˌhī-drə-ˈkär-bən 

: a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen

Medical Definition

hydrocarbon

noun

hy·​dro·​car·​bon -ˈkär-bən 

: an organic compound (as acetylene, benzene, or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens