methanol

noun

meth·​a·​nol ˈme-thə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce methanol (audio)
-ˌnōl
: a light volatile flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH3OH used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethanol and in the synthesis of other chemicals

Examples of methanol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The affected products included urea, polymers and methanol, used to make fertilizer, plastics, detergents, packaging and other consumer goods. Vidya Mani, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026 When a typical comet nears the sun, ice inside the space rock turns to gas, leaving a trail of gases such as carbon monoxide, methane and ammonia in its wake—and sometimes a little methanol. Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 12 Mar. 2026 Contigo, the world’s first 164-footer equipped with methanol fuel cells, has just listed for charter with Cecil Wright for $355,000 per week. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026 The authors of the latest paper also determined that the methanol was emanating from both the comet’s core and coma, yet another intriguing piece of the interstellar puzzle. Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for methanol

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of methanol was in 1894

Cite this Entry

“Methanol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methanol. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

methanol

noun
meth·​a·​nol ˈmeth-ə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce methanol (audio)
-ˌnōl
: a light flammable poisonous liquid alcohol that consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and is used especially as antifreeze and to dissolve things

Medical Definition

methanol

noun
meth·​a·​nol ˈmeth-ə-ˌnȯl How to pronounce methanol (audio) -ˌnōl How to pronounce methanol (audio)
: a light volatile pungent flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH3OH formed in the destructive distillation of wood or made synthetically and used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethanol and in the synthesis of other chemicals

called also carbinol, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol

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