pyrolysis

noun

py·​rol·​y·​sis pī-ˈrä-lə-səs How to pronounce pyrolysis (audio)
: chemical change brought about by the action of heat
pyrolytic adjective
pyrolytically adverb

Examples of pyrolysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is made using a chemical recycling process that combines the old tires with biomethane to create pyrolysis oil. Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025 Chemical methods like pyrolysis apply high temperatures to handle a broader range of plastics, including hard-to-recycle mixed and contaminated plastics. IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2024 The ‘So What?’ A 2022 study published in Nature described energy recovery of waste plastics in diesel fuel through a process called pyrolysis. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Other chemical recycling methods, such as pyrolysis and gasification, have drawn environmental and health concerns because the plastic is heated, which can release toxic fumes. Alex Jordan, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pyrolysis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pyrolysis was circa 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Pyrolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyrolysis. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

pyrolysis

noun
py·​rol·​y·​sis pī-ˈräl-ə-səs How to pronounce pyrolysis (audio)
plural pyrolyses -ˌsēz How to pronounce pyrolysis (audio)
: chemical change brought about by the action of heat
pyrolytic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on pyrolysis

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