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
1
: a substance obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect
2
Examples of chemical in a Sentence
Adjective
They studied the compound's chemical structure.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2025
The paper trail is secondary to what seems, at first, like Dunthorne’s eccentric decision to visit the various towns, factories and chemical dumps where the fruit of Siegfried’s research did the most damage.
—Emma Brockes, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
In that supply, which provides about 10 percent of the city’s drinking water, levels of chloride — a chemical found in salt and an indicator of salinity — tripled over the last 30 years.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chemical
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Adjective
Stylists often use a clarifying shampoo to prep hair before a chemical treatment too.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2025
The paper trail is secondary to what seems, at first, like Dunthorne’s eccentric decision to visit the various towns, factories and chemical dumps where the fruit of Siegfried’s research did the most damage.
—Emma Brockes, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
The cause of the fire at the shipbuilding site and at the chemical plants is not yet known and is still being investigated.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
In that supply, which provides about 10 percent of the city’s drinking water, levels of chloride — a chemical found in salt and an indicator of salinity — tripled over the last 30 years.
—The Learning Network, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chemical
Cite this Entry
“Chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemical. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
chemical
2 of 2 noun1
: a substance (as an element or chemical compound) obtained by a chemical process or used for producing a chemical effect
2
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