phenol

noun

phe·​nol ˈfē-ˌnōl 

-ˌnȯl;

fi-ˈnōl,

-ˈnȯl 

1

: a corrosive poisonous crystalline acidic compound C₆H₅OH present in the tars of coal and wood that in dilute solution is used as a disinfectant

2

: any of various acidic compounds analogous to phenol and regarded as hydroxyl derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons

Examples of phenol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new study opens further questions about other ways plant phenols might make adjustments throughout the body that alter a person’s disease risk. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 4 June 2025

Given two days, this single strain could remove about a quarter of the phenol, a third of the biphenyl, 30 percent of the DBF, all of the naphthalene, and nearly all of the toluene. —ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025

Five of the nine worked, giving researchers strains that could digest biphenyl, phenol, napthalene, DBF, and toluene. —ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025

The final whisky was bottled at 54.9 percent ABV, and while the final phenol level is not revealed the component whiskies range from 162.6 to 173.8 PPM—which is pretty damn smoky. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary phen- + -ol entry 3

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing phenol

• phenol red

Rhymes for phenol

• allopurinol
• eugenol

Kids Definition

phenol

noun

phe·​nol ˈfē-ˌnōl  -ˌnȯl 

fi-ˈnōl,

-ˈnȯl

: a white poisonous acidic compound present in tars from coal and wood that when dissolved to make a weak liquid mixture is used as a disinfectant

phenolic

fi-ˈnō-lik

-ˈnäl-ik

adjective

Medical Definition

phenol

noun

phe·​nol ˈfē-ˌnōl  -ˌnȯl 

fi-ˈ

1

: a corrosive poisonous crystalline acidic compound C₆H₅OH present in coal tar and wood tar that is used in the manufacture of resins and plastics, dyes, and pharmaceuticals (as aspirin) and as a topical anesthetic in dilute solution

called also carbolic, carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene

2

: any of various acidic compounds analogous to phenol and regarded as hydroxyl derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons