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.

Fomepizole works by blocking enzymes known as alcohol dehydrogenase, stopping the body from converting ethylene glycol and methanol into toxic byproducts.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2026

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

From Scientific American • Sep. 15, 2023

The WHO said that the tested samples of Guaifenesin TG syrup, made by Punjab-based QP Pharmachem Ltd, showed "unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol".

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2023

A Canadian Pacific train with liquid asphalt and ethylene glycol derailed in rural North Dakota late Sunday, officials said.

From Washington Post • Mar. 30, 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