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

It says China's chemical industry is "massive", with 160,000 companies, and despite steps by authorities to implement controls, oversight is "insufficiently staffed and equipped".

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Scientists believe those deposits could include "prebiotic organic molecules," chemical ingredients that may have eventually combined to form the first building blocks of life, including DNA.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026

She says that brokers – the role it is suggested that Zhang played - sit at the crucial intersection between the chemical producers and the cartels.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Serotonin is a chemical messenger with jobs throughout the body.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

But Kornberg’s synthesis of DNA had created order out of disorder—a gene out of its chemical subunits.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Manufacturers often add chemicals that alter the liquid's surface tension to create smoother, more uniform coatings.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

She wears a reflective vest, steel-toed boots, and, if she is handling chemicals, neoprene gloves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

Some environmental groups have also raised concerns over the impact of such technology on the environment, including the chemicals used in units to cool air.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

According to researchers, any toxic airborne chemicals would likely stem from the charred foam insulation, metal exterior, burned solar panels and any lithium batteries that might have been present inside the warehouse.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

I went over in my mind the different steps, looked at the vials of chemicals, the measuring spoons.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• synthetic