petrol

noun

pet·​rol ˈpe-trəl 

-ˌträl

chiefly British

: gasoline

Examples of petrol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The engine features an all radial design for compactness, and can use Jet A-1, JP-8, diesel, and petrol fuels. —Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026

High oil prices mean drivers of petrol cars are now spending more to run their vehicle than those who have gone electric. —Marc Shoffman, TheWeek, 11 June 2026

Twenty-four children were on board when the vehicle burst into flames in the city of Gweru, according to a police statement, adding that an investigation was underway, but initial examination suggested a jerry can of petrol kept in the minibus may have fueled the fire. —ABC News, 10 June 2026

There are cars depicted in the busy mural above the bar, vintage petrol cans stacked on shelves in the middle of the room, and a menu themed around refuelling guests with top-notch British classics. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 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