petrochemical

noun

pet·​ro·​chem·​i·​cal ˌpe-trō-ˈke-mi-kəl 

: a chemical isolated or derived from petroleum or natural gas

petrochemistry

ˌpe-trō-ˈke-mə-strē 

noun

Examples of petrochemical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

OxyChem is Occidental Petroleum’s petrochemical unit. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025

Naphtha is an essential feedstock in the petrochemical industry for producing some raw materials critical for the manufacturing of electronic components and semiconductors – industries core to Taiwan’s economy. —John Liu, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

The Shah placed water-hungry industries such as steel and petrochemicals in Iran’s driest central plateau in Isfahan and Fars provinces, tying development of heavy industry to regions with no water of their own and dependent on diversions from other basins. —Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025

Oxy is selling its chemicals business at a bit of a discount when the broader petrochemical sector is near a cyclical trough. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

petro- + chemical entry 2

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for petrochemical

• academical
• agrochemical
• biochemical
• cytochemical
• geochemical
• histochemical
• microchemical
• neurochemical
• photochemical
• phytochemical
• spectrochemical
• thermochemical

Kids Definition

petrochemical

noun

pet·​ro·​chem·​i·​cal ˌpe-trō-ˈkem-i-kəl 

: a chemical obtained from petroleum or natural gas