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
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As the price of oil finally breaks upward after a long (3 or 4 months) period of consolidation, some stocks in the petroleum group are following it higher, some to new highs, others to 6-month highs.
—
John Navin, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Bio vinyl, for example, reduces a record’s toxicity by replacing the petroleum in PVC with biogenic waste (substances such as cooking oil); the result can be 30 to 40% cleaner than the norm.
—Jordan Bassett, SPIN, 1 Jan. 2025
The site provides the Russian military with petroleum products, Kyiv's General Staff said.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
For instance, the strategic petroleum reserve, or SPR, was established after the Arab Oil Embargo triggered an energy crisis in the early 1970s with devastating consequences for the U.S. economy.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for petroleum 
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John Navin, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Bio vinyl, for example, reduces a record’s toxicity by replacing the petroleum in PVC with biogenic waste (substances such as cooking oil); the result can be 30 to 40% cleaner than the norm.
—Jordan Bassett, SPIN, 1 Jan. 2025
The site provides the Russian military with petroleum products, Kyiv's General Staff said.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024
For instance, the strategic petroleum reserve, or SPR, was established after the Arab Oil Embargo triggered an energy crisis in the early 1970s with devastating consequences for the U.S. economy.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for petroleum
Dictionary Entries Near petroleum
Cite this Entry
“Petroleum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petroleum. Accessed 9 Jan. 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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