kerosene

noun

ker·​o·​sene ˈker-ə-ˌsēn  ˌker-ə-ˈsēn 

variants or less commonly kerosine

: a flammable hydrocarbon oil usually obtained by distillation of petroleum and used as a fuel, solvent, and thinner

Examples of kerosene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The people who were arrested include the owner of the homestay, a staff member and the person who allegedly poured kerosene onto the barbecue grill, the outlet reported. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

The prices of diesel and kerosene were also hiked again this week, according to PNA. — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

Jet fuel burns as hot as kerosene — twice as hot as wood — and firefighters battle kerosene fires every day in the basements of tenements all over the city. — Peter Wilkinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

At the beginning of the twentieth century, oil markets were threatened by the transition away from kerosene and gas lighting towards electric light. — Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek kēros + English -ene (as in camphene)

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kerosene

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

Kids Definition

kerosene

noun

ker·​o·​sene

variants also kerosine

ˈker-ə-ˌsēn 

ker-ə-ˈsēn, 

ˈkar-, 

ˌkar-

: a thin oil obtained from petroleum and used as a fuel and solvent

Medical Definition

kerosene

noun

ker·​o·​sene

variants also kerosine

ˈker-ə-ˌsēn  ˌker-ə-ˈ 

ˈkar-, 

ˌkar-

: a flammable hydrocarbon oil usually obtained by distillation of petroleum and used for a fuel and as a solvent and thinner (as in insecticide emulsions)