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chemical name

American  
[kem-i-kuhl naym] / ˈkɛm ɪ kəl ˈneɪm /

noun

plural

chemical names

  1. the technical name of a chemical compound, mentioning each of its constituents and showing their relationship, such as nitrous oxide for laughing gas.

chemical name Scientific  

  1. The name of a chemical compound that shows the names of each of its elements or subcompounds. For example, the chemical name of aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid.

  2. Compare trivial name

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nereus was previously known by the chemical name tradipitant.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

Oil of lemon eucalyptus may also be listed by its chemical name, PMD.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2024

It’s the chemical name for a medicine originally developed to treat influenza that’s given orally in a capsule.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 5, 2021

It is now sold as Propecia and, since 2013, in generic versions under the chemical name finasteride.

From Reuters • Sep. 11, 2019

Iron combined with a small portion of carbon; its chemical name is Carburet of Iron.

From A Catechism of Familiar Things; Their History, and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery. With a Short Explanation of Some of the Principal Natural Phenomena. For the Use of Schools and Families. Enlarged and Revised Edition. by Anonymous

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.