hydrochloric acid

noun

hy·​dro·​chlo·​ric acid ˌhī-drə-ˈklȯr-ik- 

: an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride HCl that is a strong corrosive irritating acid, is normally present in dilute form in gastric juice, and is widely used in industry and in the laboratory

Examples of hydrochloric acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The killings came to light in May 1999, when authorities discovered dismembered remains in plastic barrels filled with hydrochloric acid in an old bank vault in Snowtown, per The Guardian. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025

The spill involved approximately 2,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid leaking from a storage tank, prompting multiple evacuations and shelter-in-place orders. —Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 8 July 2025

Coffee stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which, if not balanced by some food, can irritate the gastric mucous membranes. —Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2025

Instead, firefighters found a crushed container of muriatic acid, a diluted form of hydrochloric acid commonly used for pool maintenance. —Rhiannon Saegert, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hydrochloric acid

• antacid
• placid

Kids Definition

hydrochloric acid

noun

hy·​dro·​chlo·​ric acid ˌhī-drə-ˌklōr-ik- 

-ˌklȯr-

: a strong acid formed by dissolving hydrogen chloride in water that is widely used in industry and in the laboratory

Medical Definition

hydrochloric acid

noun

hy·​dro·​chlo·​ric acid ˌhī-drə-ˌklōr-ik-, -ˌklȯr- 

: an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride HCl that is a strong corrosive irritating acid, is normally present in dilute form in gastric juice, and is widely used in industry and in the laboratory

called also muriatic acid