hydrocarbon

American  

[hahy-druh-kahr-buhn, hahy-druh-kahr-] / ˌhaɪ drəˈkɑr bən, ˈhaɪ drəˌkɑr- /

noun

1. any of a class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, as an alkane, methane, CH 4 , an alkene, ethylene, C 2 H 4 , an alkyne, acetylene, C 2 H 2 , or an aromatic compound, benzene, C 6 H 6 .

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hydrocarbon British  

/ ˌhaɪdrəʊˈkɑːbən /

noun

1. any organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen, such as the alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, terpenes, and arenes

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hydrocarbon Scientific  

/ hī′drə-kär′bən /

1. Any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.

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Other Word Forms

• hydrocarbonaceous adjective

Etymology

Origin of hydrocarbon

First recorded in 1820–30; hydro- ² + carbon

Example Sentences

Rodriguez’s government just passed a new hydrocarbon law that oil executives have said is better than the prior law but leaves a lot to be desired, particularly in areas such as resolving legal disputes.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Markets tell a different story, so far: Coal is still king, or at least the easiest way to hedge against hydrocarbon disruption.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Dimming the upbeat declarations is a harsh reality: It will likely take at least a decade — and perhaps $200 billion or more — to restore the country’s decrepit hydrocarbon infrastructure, experts say.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

The licenses come a few weeks after Venezuela’s interim government made changes to its hydrocarbon law to ease state control of its dilapidated oil industry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Ultraviolet light from the sun converts methane to more complex hydrocarbon molecules and hydrogen gas.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan