: any of three toxic flammable oily isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons C8H10 that are di-methyl homologues of benzene and are usually obtained from petroleum or natural gas distillates
also
: a mixture of xylenes and ethyl benzene used chiefly as a solvent
Examples of xylene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The health department wanted the refinery to pull samples for more pollutants, and under the settlement agreement, the company will also monitor for toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, Ogletree said.
—
Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2024
Last week, Reuters reported that the company was fined for violating US Department of Transportation (DoT) rules regarding the movement of hazardous materials, including xylene, a toxic and flammable solvent sometimes used in tissue processing.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 30 Jan. 2024
Ferns are fantastic for removing common airborne pollutants including formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 21 Aug. 2023
That’s because the Neo P1 is meant to capture and recycle dangerous air pollutants commonly found in homes called volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—namely formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene.
—Alex Chun, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023
The lab found that values of benzene, toluene, xylenes and vinyl chloride were below the minimal risk levels for intermediate exposures as set by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
—Nicki Brown, CNN, 3 Mar. 2023
Many non-toxic nail polishes are now going further, though, to eliminate others like formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, and TPHP.
—Lindsay Schallon, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2020
According to a Clean Air Study conducted by NASA, indoor plants can also remove toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air — proving to have added health benefits.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Jan. 2020
The blaze -- which burned for 64 hours and spread to 11 tanks filled with gasoline blend stocks, naphtha, xylene and pygas -- sent a miles-long plume of black smoke over the Houston area for several days.
—Paul Takahashi, Houston Chronicle, 6 Oct. 2019
Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2024
Last week, Reuters reported that the company was fined for violating US Department of Transportation (DoT) rules regarding the movement of hazardous materials, including xylene, a toxic and flammable solvent sometimes used in tissue processing.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 30 Jan. 2024
Ferns are fantastic for removing common airborne pollutants including formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 21 Aug. 2023
That’s because the Neo P1 is meant to capture and recycle dangerous air pollutants commonly found in homes called volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—namely formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene.
—Alex Chun, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 May 2023
The lab found that values of benzene, toluene, xylenes and vinyl chloride were below the minimal risk levels for intermediate exposures as set by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
—Nicki Brown, CNN, 3 Mar. 2023
Many non-toxic nail polishes are now going further, though, to eliminate others like formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, and TPHP.
—Lindsay Schallon, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2020
According to a Clean Air Study conducted by NASA, indoor plants can also remove toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air — proving to have added health benefits.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Jan. 2020
The blaze -- which burned for 64 hours and spread to 11 tanks filled with gasoline blend stocks, naphtha, xylene and pygas -- sent a miles-long plume of black smoke over the Houston area for several days.
—Paul Takahashi, Houston Chronicle, 6 Oct. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'xylene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary
First Known Use
1851, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near xylene
Cite this Entry
“Xylene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xylene. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about xylene
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