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methanol

American  
[meth-uh-nawl, -nol] / ˈmɛθ əˌnɔl, -ˌnɒl /

noun

Chemistry.

  1. methyl alcohol.

methanol British  
/ ˈmɛθəˌnɒl /

noun

  1. Also called: methyl alcohol.   wood alcohol.  a colourless volatile poisonous liquid compound used as a solvent and fuel. Formula: CH 3 OH

"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
methanol Scientific  
/ mĕth′ə-nôl′ /

  1. A colorless, toxic, flammable liquid used as a general solvent, antifreeze, and fuel. Also called methyl alcohol, wood alcohol. Chemical formula: CH 4 O.

Etymology

Origin of methanol

First recorded in 1890–95; methane + -ol 1

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.

Derivatives from petrochemicals - such as methanol and ethylene - are vital materials in the global production of pharmaceuticals, including painkillers, antibiotics and vaccines.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Citi raises the company’s 2026 Ebitda estimates by 1.1 billion ringgit to 3.2 billion ringgit on higher urea and minor methanol price hikes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

“At the micro level, Iran represents a meaningful exporter of polyethylene and methanol, and potential export constraints or project delays could materially tighten global supply/demand balances over the next several years,” he says.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

The survey detected dozens of molecules, including relatively simple ones such as silicon monoxide as well as more complex organic compounds like methanol, acetone or ethanol.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026

But it’s not just oil, as methanol and food are at risk.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.