petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm 
-ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
Examples of petroleum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Making plastic consumes large amounts of petroleum products, which contributes to climate change.
—
Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
To do so, the agency recommended sustaining California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program designed to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels, decrease petroleum dependency and achieve air quality gains.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 19 Aug. 2025
Marketed as safer alternatives to traditional petroleum products, Firefly Fuel emphasizes non-toxic, clean-burning formulas designed for reliable everyday use.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Saudi Arabia in particular is a waking giant as the world’s biggest crude oil exporter taps alternatives to reduce its domestic petroleum consumption and diversify its economy.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petroleum
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Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
To do so, the agency recommended sustaining California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program designed to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels, decrease petroleum dependency and achieve air quality gains.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 19 Aug. 2025
Marketed as safer alternatives to traditional petroleum products, Firefly Fuel emphasizes non-toxic, clean-burning formulas designed for reliable everyday use.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Saudi Arabia in particular is a waking giant as the world’s biggest crude oil exporter taps alternatives to reduce its domestic petroleum consumption and diversify its economy.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for petroleum
Cite this Entry
“Petroleum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petroleum. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm
-ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, is obtained from wells drilled in the ground, and is the source of gasoline, kerosene, fuel oils, and other products
Medical Definition
petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm, -ˈtrōl-yəm
: an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes
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