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naphtha

American  
[naf-thuh, nap-] / ˈnæf θə, ˈnæp- /

noun

  1. a colorless, volatile petroleum distillate, usually an intermediate product between gasoline and benzine, used as a solvent, fuel, etc.

  2. any of various similar liquids distilled from other products.

  3. petroleum.


naphtha British  
/ ˈnæfθə, ˈnæp- /

noun

  1. a distillation product from coal tar boiling in the approximate range 80–170°C and containing aromatic hydrocarbons

  2. a distillation product from petroleum boiling in the approximate range 100–200°C and containing aliphatic hydrocarbons: used as a solvent and in petrol

  3. an obsolete name for petroleum

"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

naphtha Scientific  
/ năfthə /
  1. Any of several liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons made by refining petroleum or by breaking down coal tar. Naphtha is usually flammable, and is used as a solvent and as an ingredient in gasoline. It is also used to make plastics.


Other Word Forms

  • naphthous adjective

Etymology

Origin of naphtha

1565–75; < Latin < Greek náphthas, perhaps < Iranian *nafta, derivative of *nab- to be damp; compare Avestan napta- damp, Persian naft naphtha

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Explanation

Naphtha is a flammable liquid made from distilling petroleum. It looks like gasoline. Naphtha is used to dilute heavy oil to help move it through pipelines, to make high-octane gas, to make lighter fluid, and even to clean metal. This unusual-looking word refers to a dangerous substance: naphtha is a liquid hydrocarbon mixture that is extremely flammable and volatile. If you're around naphtha and you light a match, Kaboom! Naphtha is created by distilling petroleum, and it's a component of gasoline and kerosene. The main purpose of naphtha is as a solvent, which means it's used to dissolve other substances, which is why it can be used to clean metal. Without fossil fuels, we would have no naphtha.

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Vocabulary lists containing naphtha

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.

One, the Auroura, appeared to be carrying the petrochemical ingredient naphtha from Iran, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

On Monday, Japanese toilet giant Toto halted orders for prefabricated bath units because of a shortage of naphtha, a critical petrochemical derived from crude oil.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Around 70% of Japan’s consumption of naphtha, a key feedstock for plastics, comes from the Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

"We estimate that naphtha inventories currently stand at around 20 days" in Japan, the world's fourth-biggest economy, analysts at Nomura warned last week.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

That was something else to think of: the matches were running out, and so was the naphtha for the stove; she must keep the fire alight day and night from now on.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman