natural gas

American  

noun

1. a combustible mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons that accumulates in porous sedimentary rocks, especially those yielding petroleum, consisting usually of over 80 percent methane together with minor amounts of ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen, and, sometimes, helium: used as a fuel and to make carbon black, acetylene, and synthesis gas.

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natural gas British  

noun

1. a gaseous mixture consisting mainly of methane trapped below ground; used extensively as a fuel

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natural gas Scientific  

/ năch′ər-əl /

1. A mixture of hydrocarbon gases that occurs naturally beneath the Earth's surface, often with or near petroleum deposits. Natural gas contains mostly of methane but also has varying amounts of ethane, propane, butane, and nitrogen. It is used as a fuel and in making organic compounds.

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Etymology

Origin of natural gas

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Nymex natural gas futures returned early gains to end the session lower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026

A change like this would normally be a disaster for an up-and-coming industry competing against entrenched electricity sources like coal and natural gas.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

It also said it would spend $8 billion over 10 years on four other wedge strategies: solar, wind, hydrogen and natural gas.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2026

The sector got a lift from ongoing buildout in natural-gas infrastructure to support both electric power for data centers and liquefied natural gas exports.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

Holmes attempted, for example, to sell investors a machine that turned water into natural gas.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• crude oil
• fossil fuel
• fuel
• gas
• gasoline
• kerosene
• petrol