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

It moved into commercial fishing during the 1980s oil slump and diversified into natural gas and fish-protein, then sold off its energy assets and bought a sausage-casing company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Estimating methane from a reservoir is trickier than measuring plumes from natural gas wells or landfills, scientists say.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Gasoline prices were up 15.7% month over month, but electricity and natural gas both posted slight declines.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Nymex natural gas is down 0.7% at $2.608/mmBtu.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 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