petrochemical

[ pe-troh-kem-i-kuhl ]

noun

1. a chemical substance obtained from petroleum or natural gas, as gasoline, kerosene, or petrolatum.

adjective

1. of or relating to petrochemistry or a petrochemical.

petrochemical

/ ˌpɛtrəʊˈkɛmɪkəl /

noun

1. any substance, such as acetone or ethanol, obtained from petroleum or natural gas

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or obtained from petrochemicals or related to petrochemistry

petrochemical

/ pĕt′rō-kĕm′ĭ-kəl /

1. Any of a large number of chemicals made from petroleum or natural gas. Important petrochemicals include benzene, ammonia, acetylene, and polystyrene. Petrochemicals are used to produce a wide variety of materials, such as plastics, explosives, fertilizers, and synthetic fibers.

petrochemical

1. Any material made from substances found in oil or natural gas. Most plastics are petrochemicals.

Derived Forms

• ˌpetroˈchemically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of petrochemical¹

First recorded in 1910–15; petro- ² + chemical

Example Sentences

The pivot in Reliance’s focus from its longtime oil, gas, and petrochemicals business to tech couldn’t have been clearer than at Reliance’s annual meeting in July, where mentions of Jio dominated the tycoon’s two-hour long speech.

From Quartz

Other targets were petrochemical companies, likely because they produce dry ice, which is used in the cold chain, Zaboeva said.

From Fortune

His companies are now the leaders in several sectors in India, including retail, telecom, and petrochemicals.

From Quartz

The series also investigated the petrochemical industry in Louisiana and the lack of oversight from the state’s environmental regulators.

From ProPublica

It has also been used by petrochemical companies to optimize their processes.

From Fortune

Of course, those spheres also encase it in a petrochemical prison.

From The Daily Beast

This scene was rudely disturbed by the view of petrochemical plants and refineries in the background.

From The Daily Beast