chemical
Americannoun
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a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.
-
Slang. chemicals, narcotic or mind-altering drugs or substances.
adjective
-
of, used in, produced by, or concerned with chemistry or chemicals.
a chemical formula; chemical agents.
-
used in chemical warfare.
chemical weapons.
noun
adjective
-
of or used in chemistry
chemical balance
-
of, made from, or using chemicals
chemical fertilizer
Other Word Forms
- chemically adverb
- nonchemical adjective
- prechemical adjective
- pseudochemical adjective
- semichemical adjective
- semichemically adverb
- superchemical adjective
- superchemically adverb
- unchemical adjective
- unchemically adverb
Etymology
Origin of chemical
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.
Vocabulary lists containing chemical
Matter and Energy 1: Atoms and Molecules
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Chemical Reactions - Introductory
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"Handle with Care"
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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.
The chemical giant was moving higher as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
And they were unaware, or unconcerned, that that chemical was wreaking havoc on the soil, weakening the trees’ defenses, leaving them extremely vulnerable to disease.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026
They include an anode, cathode and electrolyte, but instead of chemical reactions, they rely on bacteria that naturally release electrons.
From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026
A Met Police chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear team was seen near the park's bandstand on Friday and police divers were spotted near the Round Pond ornamental lake.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
Of the various components, he was particularly intrigued by one kind of chemical.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
