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

Similarly, there were thoughts of perhaps creating large canals in the Sahara Desert filled with kerosene, then torched to flash a similar transmission from the dark side of Earth, the METI expert explained. —Leonard David, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026

German airlines are urging the government to take emergency steps such as releasing strategic kerosene reserves to avoid flight cuts before the peak summer season as Mideast tensions remain high. —Sonja Wind, Bloomberg, 17 Apr. 2026

Hunger also is expected to worsen because Haiti’s government in early April increased the price per gallon of kerosene by 40%, diesel by 37% and gasoline by 29% given the ongoing war. —ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026

He was arrested while holding a jug of kerosene. —Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek kēros + English -ene (as in camphene)

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kerosene

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

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)