ethylene glycol

American

noun

Chemistry.

glycol.

ethylene glycol British

noun

another name for ethanediol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ethylene glycol Scientific

/ glī′kôl′ /

A poisonous, syrupy, colorless alcohol used as an antifreeze in heating and cooling systems that use water. Ethylene glycol is chemically like ethanol but has two hydroxyl (OH) groups instead of one. Also called glycol. Chemical formula: C ₂ H ₆ O ₂ .

Etymology

Origin of ethylene glycol

First recorded in 1900–05

Compare meaning

How does ethylene-glycol compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

polyethylene glycol vs. ethylene glycol

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 current clinical trial led by Heard and his colleagues is focused on fomepizole, a drug approved to treat poisoning from ethylene glycol and methanol, substances commonly found in antifreeze.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2026

While, propylene glycol is non-toxic and widely used in medicines, cosmetics and food, ethylene glycol is toxic and used in paint, pens and brake fluid.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2023

It’s not to be confused with ethylene glycol, which is used in antifreeze.

From Scientific American • Sep. 15, 2023

Trace amounts of less than 0.1% of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in medicines are not considered toxic, according to the WHO.

From Reuters • Jun. 20, 2023

They include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, mannitol, sorbitol, dextrans, and seminal-plasma proteins.

From Preservation of Bull Semen at Sub-Zero Temperatures by Friedman, M. E.

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