petrol

noun

pet·​rol ˈpe-trəl 

-ˌträl

chiefly British

: gasoline

Examples of petrol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For millions of households and businesses that rely on diesel and petrol generators because the electricity grid remains unreliable, rising oil prices increase the cost of keeping the lights on. — Michael Adu Okyere, Time, 28 July 2026

Last December, the government introduced a higher rate for drivers consuming more than 160 litres (42 gallons) of petrol per month. — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

The petrol engine produces 150PS, while the front electric motor makes 272PS and the rear motor develops 387PS. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Total weight is expected to be reduced to around that of an equivalent petrol sports car while maintaining a battery range of at least more than 560 km (350 miles). — New Atlas, 15 July 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