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

See Examples For:

natural gas

U.S. natural gas futures recovered early losses to snap a four-session losing streak, while still struggling to make headway given adequate domestic supply.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The worst natural gas leak in the nation’s history happened in 2015 in Aliso Canyon, and 11,000 people were evacuated from their Porter Ranch homes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

“It plays well with voters in general, not just because of the dominance of oil and natural gas in Texas, but just because of the political makeup of our state,” Longanecker said.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

It became a leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas, thanks to international partnerships and investments that had been brokered.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

I swear it smelled like natural gas and pu-erh tea when it ruptured, which was weird and gross.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Related Words

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