diesel

noun

die·​sel ˈdē-zəl 

-səl

1

: diesel engine

2

: a vehicle driven by a diesel engine

3

: diesel fuel

Examples of diesel in a Sentence

Does your car take diesel or gasoline?

Recent Examples on the Web

Saudi Arabia ships roughly 230,000 barrels of diesel through the Suez Canal from refineries close to Yemen, putting them at risk of Houthi attack, according to Homayoun Falakshahi, head of crude oil analysis at Kpler. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Sales were also helped by a surge of EV buying in general in Europe as gas and diesel prices have risen due to the Iran war. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

The start of the war in March saw oil prices spike and gas and diesel prices follow, only to fall when the shooting paused a few weeks later. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Many of these backup generators are diesel, built as a last resort rather than a routine grid-balancing tool. — Anna Demeo, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Rudolf Diesel

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing diesel

• diesel-electric
• diesel engine
• diesel fuel

Rhymes for diesel

• pedicel

Kids Definition

diesel

noun

die·​sel ˈdē-zəl 

-səl

1

: diesel engine

2

: a vehicle (as a truck or train) driven by a diesel engine

3

: a fuel designed for use in diesel engines

Etymology

named for Rudolf Diesel 1858–1913 German engineer

Biographical Definition

Diesel

biographical name

Die·​sel ˈdē-zəl 

-səl

Rudolf 1858–1913 German mechanical engineer