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

But prices edged lower Friday, after the Group of Seven nations announced the release of diesel and crude stocks to ease the burden on consumers. — Azhar Sukri,terri Cullen, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

During those initial tests, the engine used a small amount of diesel oil as a pilot ignition source to burn a premixed combination of hydrogen and air. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, Rogers is among the Republican candidates who are increasingly critical of the Iran war and eager for its end to bring down gasoline, diesel, and food prices. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026

European Union countries committed about 92 million barrels, a promise weighted toward refined products made from crude such as diesel. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 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