petrol

noun

pet·​rol ˈpe-trəl 

-ˌträl

chiefly British

: gasoline

Examples of petrol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier this week, British motoring body the RAC said petrol and diesel prices had hit, since the Iran war began, with both fuels now at prices not seen in four years. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

For Amado, the goal is bigger than replacing individual petrol vehicles. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Social media users in Tehran also reported gas stations without petrol in more urban, northern neighborhoods. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Nigerian petrol prices soared after the fuel subsidy was removed in 2023. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French pétrole "petroleum, any of various products distilled from petroleum," going back to Old French petteroile, petrole "mineral oil, petroleum," borrowed from Medieval Latin petroleum — more at petroleum

Note: The use of the word in English is apparently owed to a cooperative endeavor by the British distilling and oil refining firm Carless, Capel and Leonard and the engineer Frederick Richard Simms, who had purchased the rights to Gottlieb Daimler's gasoline-powered engine. Though an attempt to register petrol as a trademark was unsuccessful, Carless, Capel and Leonard continued to use it as a marketing name. Note that French pétrole (rather than essence de pétrole) is used for distilled petroleum products by Gustave Richard in Les nouveaux moteurs à gaz et à pétrole (Paris, 1892). The now usual French word essence for "gasoline" is shortened from essence de pétrole.

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing petrol

• petrol bomb
• petrol station

Kids Definition

petrol

noun

pet·​rol ˈpe-trəl 

-ˌträl

chiefly British

: gasoline