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

The public also received conflicting information and messaging on whether ammonia, a toxic chemical, was present in the smoke.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

A lot of consumers are so much more conscious about what they’re eating—carefully examining what they eat, steering clear of mystery chemical ingredients and counting their macros.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

This category includes Botox, fillers, chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser hair removal, nonsurgical fat reduction and skin tightening, and weight-loss medication such as GLP-1s.

From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026

“The economy is annoying, it is getting in the way of otherwise good business,” said one unidentified manufacturer in the chemical sector, the biggest industry in the survey.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

But what was the chemical identity of the “message” that was built from a gene?

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

In aging animals, most neutrophils that never encounter a pathogen quickly enter senescence, a dysfunctional state in which they can release harmful chemicals that damage nearby cells and promote inflammation.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026

Historically low water levels on major rivers in Germany this summer have also weighed on industries, such as chemicals and steel-making, that transport goods by boat.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

Laura Doel from Trade Union Congress Cymru, said: "Our research shows that stress is the number one risk at work, higher than traditional dangers like exposure to chemicals, working at height and unsafe machinery."

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

While turning the old-fashioned source of energy into chemicals is more expensive than using oil or natural gas, China’s domestic coal reserves are vast.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

He wanted to know everything about the faranji and their workshops—the diagrams on their drafting tables, the chemicals in their flasks, the dreams in their heads.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• synthetic