fracking

American  

[frak-ing] / ˈfræk ɪŋ /

noun

1. hydraulic fracturing.

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Other Word Forms

• frack
  verb (used with or without object)

Etymology

Origin of fracking

Shortening and alteration

Explanation

Fracking is a method of extracting natural gas and oil that are trapped in underground rocks in order to use them for fuel. Fracking is controversial, especially among environmentalists. The term fracking is a 21st-century word, first appearing in jargon used by engineers as shorthand for "hydraulic fracturing." This is the engineering process that blasts very high-pressure jets of water underground, flushing out deposits of oil and gas that would otherwise be almost impossible to reach. The use of such enormous quantities of water, and the pollution that results, are just two of the downsides of fracking.

Example Sentences

The recent fracking revolution has likely reduced that intensity even further, insulating the U.S. economy from oil-price shocks.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

For one thing, the country has become the world’s largest producer of energy thanks to the fracking revolution.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

Researchers observed 2,500 participants who wrote on several controversial topics including the death penalty, fracking and voting rights.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

It has ramped up its fracking in recent years, increasing its own gas production, leaving it "the most insulated from this shock," says Oxley.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

This spurred more shale fracking without crimping U.S. supply since Gulf Coast refineries aren’t well-suited to process lighter shale blends.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026