chemical

American  

[kem-i-kuhl] / ˈkɛm ɪ kəl /

noun

• chemicals
  plural

1. a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.

2. Slang. chemicals, narcotic or mind-altering drugs or substances.

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adjective

1. of, used in, produced by, or concerned with chemistry or chemicals.

   a chemical formula; chemical agents.

2. used in chemical warfare.

   chemical weapons.

chemical British  

/ ˈkɛmɪkəl /

noun

1. any substance used in or resulting from a reaction involving changes to atoms or molecules, especially one derived artificially for practical use

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adjective

1. of or used in chemistry

   chemical balance

2. of, made from, or using chemicals

   chemical fertilizer

chemical Scientific  

/ kĕm′ĭ-kəl /

1. Relating to or produced by means of chemistry.

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1. A substance having a specific molecular composition, obtained by or used in a chemical process.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonchemical
  adjective
• prechemical
  adjective
• pseudochemical
  adjective
• semichemical
  adjective
• superchemical
  adjective
• unchemical
  adjective
• chemically
  adverb
• semichemically
  adverb
• superchemically
  adverb
• unchemically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chemicals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chemical

1570–80; chemic + -al ¹; replacing chimical chemic

Explanation

A chemical is any mix of raw elements: hydrogen + oxygen produce the chemical water. Water is created by a change in the chemistry of hydrogen and oxygen atoms — a chemical change. Be cautious of the negative reaction people have to chemical substances. Chemicals often bring to mind deadly substances, such as asbestos or deadly chemical weapons. But many chemicals are part of our everyday life. Our lives would be drastically different without chemical compounds — think of the infection that would result if we didn't have the chemical hydrogen peroxide for cleaning out cuts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chemical chemicals

Because electricity provides the energy needed to drive the reactions, the approach could eventually be combined with renewable energy sources to support more sustainable chemical manufacturing.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

The findings suggest a potentially versatile way to improve the production of many commercially important chemical ingredients.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

By controlling tiny changes in acidity near electrodes, researchers dramatically improved the production of valuable chemical ingredients, raising the proportion of the desired product from approximately 16% to 97%.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

By redesigning a chemical reactor to control the distance between electrodes and the movement of liquid through the system, the team found a way to manage these conditions and greatly improve the reaction's performance.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

At first, Brenner reported, all he could see in the experiment was the chemical equivalent of thick “California fog—wet, cold, silent.”

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

They are also valuable intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

The nurse wrote that patients were arriving with headaches, rashes and blisters, “we believe, due to the chemicals being used to spray.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

Sharply defined restrictions on biological weapons, ozone-destroying chemicals, leaded gasoline and tobacco marketing have also succeeded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

This says it can discharge controlled amounts of oil and chemicals into the air and waterways.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

“I’m not sure what the other chemicals are. I’d have to look them up.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• synthetic