natural gas

noun

1

: gas issuing from the earth's crust through natural openings or bored wells

especially : a combustible mixture of methane and other hydrocarbons used chiefly as a fuel and raw material

2

: gas manufactured from organic matter (such as coal)

Examples of natural gas in a Sentence

a house heated by natural gas

Recent Examples on the Web

Any monetization of the strait would be a dramatic change from the situation before the war, when commercial ships carrying 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas supply transited the waterway without fees. — Abigail Williams, NBC news, 3 July 2026

Meanwhile, analysts have called for China to expand its strategic stockpile beyond oil and into natural gas, critical minerals, and key components. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 July 2026

The war also created a global shortage of natural gas, a key component in nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing. — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 3 July 2026

However, in an April 2026 newsletter, Thomas pointed to Google’s $40 billion investment in Texas data centers as including a campus potentially powered by a 933-megawatt natural gas power plant without carbon capture technology. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for natural gas

• bermudagrass
• ecclesiastes
• alas
• amass
• bromegrass
• bypass
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass

Kids Definition

natural gas

noun

: gas that comes from the earth's crust through natural openings or bored wells

especially : a flammable mixture of hydrocarbons and especially methane used chiefly as a fuel and raw material