petroleum

noun

pe·​tro·​leum pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm How to pronounce petroleum (audio)
-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
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.
Prices for most types of petroleum products have gone up since the war with Iran began in late February, amid limits on how much could flow through the Strait of Hormuz. — Willa Rubin, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 Riyadh’s Black Gold Museum has filled a Zaha Hadid building with more than 350 artworks on the subject, with backing from the culture ministry and the state’s petroleum think tank. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026 That amount represents roughly one-fifth of Venezuela’s estimated reserves of more than 300 billion barrels, the largest petroleum reserves in the world. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 Commercial hurdle remains These precise compositional tweaks balanced petroleum and bio-based fractions to maximize both sustainability and overall fuel quality. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for petroleum

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "mineral oil," borrowed from Medieval Latin, "mineral oil, crude oil," from Latin petra "rock" (borrowed from Greek pétra) + oleum "oil" — more at petro-, oil entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petroleum was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing petroleum

Rhymes for petroleum

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Browse Nearby Words

petroleous
petroleum
petroleum asphalt
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Petroleum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petroleum. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

petroleum

noun
pe·​tro·​leum pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm How to pronounce petroleum (audio)
-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 How to pronounce petroleum (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on petroleum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about petroleum

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