petrochemical

noun

pet·​ro·​chem·​i·​cal ˌpe-trō-ˈke-mi-kəl How to pronounce petrochemical (audio)
: a chemical isolated or derived from petroleum or natural gas
petrochemistry noun

Examples of petrochemical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The producers of many petrochemicals have been aware of the risks, such as birth defects, for decades. Gerald Markowitz, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 Jim Ratcliffe, the chairman of the petrochemicals company Ineos, bought a 25 percent stake in Man United for $1.5 billion—a deal that was ratified on Tuesday, The New York Times reported. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2024 Notably, the lawyers representing the commercial fishing business plaintiffs in Wednesday’s case are backed by the petrochemicals billionaire Charles Koch. Charlie Savage, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2024 Wagner is used to abiding strict ethical guidelines while covering professional cycling; the petrochemical company funding the junket sent her first class to Austin. Longreads, 8 Mar. 2024 Oil rigs and petrochemical processing locations, for instance, may have requirements to check water quality daily. John Koetsier, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Dow Chemical recently invested nearly 9 billion Canadian dollars to construct the world’s first net-zero petrochemical complex in the province in an effort to become carbon neutral by 2050. Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2024 The nation is the largest oil producer in the Caribbean; according to the World Bank, its petroleum and petrochemicals industry generates more than a third of its gross domestic product. Laris Karklis, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 And on the rails, some cargo — coal, grain, cement, fertilizer, petrochemicals, lumber — is just too cumbersome to appeal to thieves. Malia Wollan, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petrochemical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

petro- + chemical entry 2

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petrochemical was in 1942

Dictionary Entries Near petrochemical

Cite this Entry

“Petrochemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petrochemical. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

petrochemical

noun
pet·​ro·​chem·​i·​cal ˌpe-trō-ˈkem-i-kəl How to pronounce petrochemical (audio)
: a chemical obtained from petroleum or natural gas

More from Merriam-Webster on petrochemical

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