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

Mitsui O.S.K. operates hundreds of vessels globally, including one of the world’s largest fleets of liquefied natural gas carriers, and owns prime properties in cities such as London, Sydney, Osaka, and Tokyo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Canada approved Enbridge’s proposed multibillion-dollar expansion of a west-coast natural gas pipeline system.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

British oil giant Shell is making a big bet on Canadian shale oil and natural gas, announcing Monday it will spend $16 billion to buy Calgary-based ARC Resources.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

New Jersey-based Bluepoint Wind has committed to investing up to $765 million into a U.S. based liquefied natural gas facility, the amount of its original bid under the Biden administration.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 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