petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm 
-ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
Examples of petroleum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The agency has faced calls for years to pull other synthetic food dyes derived from petroleum like Red 40, which is largely absent from food in some other countries.
—
Paula Cohen, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025
From the late 1800s until today, fossil fuels — coal, petroleum and natural gas — have been the primary sources of energy.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2025
Key ingredients: Water, petroleum / Fragrance: Fragrance-free / Size: 16 oz.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Glamour, 14 Apr. 2025
In 2022, Trinidad and Tobago exported $5.4 billion of goods to the U.S. and imported $3.5 billion of goods from the U.S. Exports mostly included LNG and downstream energy products, while imports include food products, refined petroleum and machinery.
—Panorama Media Ltd., Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petroleum
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Paula Cohen, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025
From the late 1800s until today, fossil fuels — coal, petroleum and natural gas — have been the primary sources of energy.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2025
Key ingredients: Water, petroleum / Fragrance: Fragrance-free / Size: 16 oz.
—Marilyn La Jeunesse, Glamour, 14 Apr. 2025
In 2022, Trinidad and Tobago exported $5.4 billion of goods to the U.S. and imported $3.5 billion of goods from the U.S. Exports mostly included LNG and downstream energy products, while imports include food products, refined petroleum and machinery.
—Panorama Media Ltd., Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petroleum
Cite this Entry
“Petroleum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petroleum. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm
-ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, is obtained from wells drilled in the ground, and is the source of gasoline, kerosene, fuel oils, and other products
Medical Definition
petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm, -ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
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