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

Researchers say this finding suggests that ingestion of the chemical was intentional.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

The group said the chemical industry accounted for most of the contraction, attributing the weakness to the rising price of oil, which many companies use as their primary feedstock for chemicals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

He began looking into the history of the former landfill site at Stoney Hill, in Telford, where former chemical giant, Monsanto, is known to have legally dumped waste in the mid to late 1980s.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

The process of hydraulic fracturing ekes out oil from older wells, and involves cracking the bedrock several thousand feet below the seafloor by injecting chemical fluids with intense pressure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Until late in 1572, perhaps under the influence of the elder Steen, Tycho devoted himself mainly to chemical experiments, although he never abandoned his interest in astronomy.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

He recently brokered a deal for a maker of water treatment chemicals in Pittsburg, Calif., to sell hydrogen, one of its byproducts, to transit agencies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Instead of changing a material by adding chemicals or combining it with something else, scientists may be able to tune its electrical properties simply by changing its shape.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

The German government has temporarily lifted a ban on truck transports on Sundays and public holidays to help industries that rely on the Rhine for deliveries, which also include sectors such as chemicals and agriculture.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

That has pushed other Asian refiners to run harder and raised refining margins, said Alan Gelder, Wood Mackenzie’s vice president of refining, chemicals and oil markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

It is bridged by signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

Related Words

• synthetic