petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm 
-ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
Examples of petroleum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The first such instance was in 2015, when the EPA required petroleum refineries to monitor for cancer-causing benzene.
—
Brenda Goodman, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Eni has about 50 operating petroleum platforms in the Adriatic Sea off Ravenna, beyond lagoons dotted with flamingos.
—Stanley Reed, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
However, the greatest concern around some aerosol dry shampoos is the presence of benzene, which is a petroleum chemical that is released when the product is sprayed, Waldman explains.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
For example, research on workers in the petroleum industry has shown that benzene exposure can increase the risk of leukemia (a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues) and multiple myeloma (a condition in which cancerous plasma cells infiltrate bone marrow), per the WHO guidelines.
—Jessica Chia, SELF, 12 Mar. 2024
José worked in Venezuela’s petroleum industry as an electrical engineer.
—Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024
The port receives a modest quantity of refined petroleum products.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Being a petroleum analyst in an election year is frustrating.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
The spike around the state is expected, said Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, in a news release detailing gas price hikes in Milwaukee.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2024
Brenda Goodman, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Eni has about 50 operating petroleum platforms in the Adriatic Sea off Ravenna, beyond lagoons dotted with flamingos.
—Stanley Reed, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
However, the greatest concern around some aerosol dry shampoos is the presence of benzene, which is a petroleum chemical that is released when the product is sprayed, Waldman explains.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
For example, research on workers in the petroleum industry has shown that benzene exposure can increase the risk of leukemia (a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues) and multiple myeloma (a condition in which cancerous plasma cells infiltrate bone marrow), per the WHO guidelines.
—Jessica Chia, SELF, 12 Mar. 2024
José worked in Venezuela’s petroleum industry as an electrical engineer.
—Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024
The port receives a modest quantity of refined petroleum products.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Being a petroleum analyst in an election year is frustrating.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
The spike around the state is expected, said Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, in a news release detailing gas price hikes in Milwaukee.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petroleum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near petroleum
Cite this Entry
“Petroleum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petroleum. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm
-ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, is obtained from wells drilled in the ground, and is the source of gasoline, kerosene, fuel oils, and other products
Medical Definition
petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm, -ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
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