chemical

1 of 2

adjective

chem·​i·​cal ˈke-mi-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry

chemical reactions

2

a

: acting or operated or produced by chemicals

a chemical fire extinguisher

b

: detectable by chemical means

chemically

ˈke-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

chemical

2 of 2

noun

1

: a substance obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect

2

: drug sense 2

Examples of chemical in a Sentence

Adjective

They studied the compound's chemical structure.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Here's where Taiwan company opens first chemical plant in U.S., a $100 million investment in Phoenix Scottsdale school district may sue Maricopa County over tax issue This will be the first Electric Pickle in the U.S. —Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024

The structures are held together by some of the strongest chemical bonds in nature, including the ones that turn carbon atoms into diamonds. —Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024

Noun

The top-performing subsectors were daily chemicals, communication services, and packaging. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

More than 7,000 bottles of an antidepressant were recalled over a possible cancerous chemical. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

chemic or its source, Medieval Latin chimicus + -al entry 1

Noun

derivative of chemical entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chemical

• chemical castration
• chemical engineering
• chemical laser
• chemical peel
• chemical reaction
• chemical warfare
• chemical weapon
• forever chemical
• multiple chemical sensitivity

Kids Definition

chemical

1 of 2 adjective

chem·​i·​cal ˈkem-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry

2

: acting or operated or produced by chemicals

chemically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

chemical

2 of 2 noun

: a substance (as an element or compound) obtained from a chemical process or used to get a chemical result

Medical Definition

chemical

1 of 2 adjective

chem·​i·​cal ˈkem-i-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry

2

a

: acting or operated or produced by chemicals

b

: detectable by chemical means

chemically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

chemical

2 of 2 noun

1

: a substance (as an element or chemical compound) obtained by a chemical process or used for producing a chemical effect

2

: drug sense 2