petrol
noun
petrol
1 American
[pe-truhl]
/ ˈpɛ trəl /
petrol.
2
American
abbreviation
petrol.
1
British
abbreviation
petrol
2
British
/ ˈpɛtrəl /
noun
Etymology
Origin of petrol
1590–1600; < Middle French petrole < Medieval Latin petroleum petroleum
Explanation
Petrol is a fuel derived from petroleum. If you are American, you probably call petrol "gas." When the price of petrol goes up, lots of people complain, because petrol is gasoline. Petrol is the fuel used in many types of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, motorboats, and airplanes. Petrol is derived from petroleum, and besides smelling bad, it's very flammable. If you light a match near petrol, there will be an explosion. Since petrol comes from petroleum, petrol is a fossil fuel.
Vocabulary lists containing petrol
Boy: Tales of Childhood
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Ten Words from New York Times History - Japan Surrenders - August 14, 1945
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The Grand Escape
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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.
Petrol prices have reached a fresh high in May since, according to the RAC, hitting 158.52p a litre on Tuesday.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
Petrol prices are up by more than 14 percent at the pump, and last week authorities ordered widespread rolling blackouts to save precious natural gas.
From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026
Petrol and diesel are being rationed, and prices, already significantly higher than in neighbouring Thailand, have risen sharply.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Petrol has gone up already and UK domestic heating bills are almost certain to follow.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Petrol, raw fish, and stale sweat dominated a battle of odors for the stuffy space.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
