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

This is because the chemical makeup of the coral skeleton -- the ratio of strontium-to-calcium and the different forms of oxygen inside it -- reflects the conditions under which it grew.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

The author has related critiques for advocates of the raw-food movement, who maintain that the chemical transformations induced by cooking destroy vital nutrients.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

It comes in the wake of recent high-profile industrial incidents, such as a near-miss chemical disaster in Garden Grove that prompted thousands of evacuations in May.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

That creates a challenge for scientists hoping to study chemical evidence connected to the Moon's ancient geology or possible biology.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

The gene, Schrödinger posited, had to be made of a peculiar kind of chemical; it had to be a molecule of contradictions.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

“We need to help our farmers transition away from these persistent chemicals so that California can be a global leader in food safety,” he added.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

The fiery Feb. 3, 2023 accident involved 20 cars carrying hazardous chemicals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Researcher and whistleblower Douglas Gowan spent 50 years trying to persuade authorities to investigate what he believed was widespread dumping of industrial chemicals.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

"Understanding exactly how these catalysts work at the atomic level allows us to design better materials for converting renewable resources into valuable chemicals," said Dr. Christopher Parlett, Lecturer in Chemical Engineering.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

Quentin said it involved some chemicals he wanted to see.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Related Words

• synthetic