: a colorless volatile flammable toxic liquid aromatic hydrocarbon C6H6 used in organic synthesis, as a solvent, and as a motor fuel
Examples of benzene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Six popular acne treatments from name brands like La Roche-Posay, Proactive, and Walgreens have been recalled for having elevated levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.
—
Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
Exposure to even low amounts of some chemicals, such as benzene, may lead to cancer.
—Jenni Shearston, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
In Pascagoula, Mississippi, complaints from residents rolled in to the state’s environmental agency for years as a nearby oil refinery, a shipbuilding plant and other facilities regularly released carcinogens like benzene and nickel, according to emissions reports the facilities sent to the EPA.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 5 Feb. 2025
Appliances, coolant fluid, polyester curtains, cleaning products—all the manmade parts of a house can produce a rich suite of health-harming compounds and gases, like benzene and formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
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Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
Exposure to even low amounts of some chemicals, such as benzene, may lead to cancer.
—Jenni Shearston, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
In Pascagoula, Mississippi, complaints from residents rolled in to the state’s environmental agency for years as a nearby oil refinery, a shipbuilding plant and other facilities regularly released carcinogens like benzene and nickel, according to emissions reports the facilities sent to the EPA.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 5 Feb. 2025
Appliances, coolant fluid, polyester curtains, cleaning products—all the manmade parts of a house can produce a rich suite of health-harming compounds and gases, like benzene and formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.
—Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for benzene
Cite this Entry
“Benzene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/benzene. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
benzene
noun
ben·zene
ˈben-ˌzēn 
ben-ˈzēn
: a colorless flammable liquid that evaporates easily and is used to make or dissolve other chemicals or as a motor fuel
Medical Definition
: a colorless volatile flammable toxic liquid aromatic hydrocarbon C6H6 used in organic synthesis, as a solvent, and as a motor fuel
called also benzol
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