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chemical

n. · adj.
US //ˈkɛməkəɫ// UK //kˈɛmɪkəl// chem·i·cal
  1. 1 a substance (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Science

    a specific substance that is used in or made by a chemical process.

    any specific chemical element, compound, or alloy with a distinct molecular composition.

    Example

    The factory was fined for leaking dangerous chemicals into the nearby river.

    Example

    The laboratory technician carefully labelled each beaker to ensure that no reactive chemicals were stored in close proximity to one another.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural when referring to industrial or laboratory substances.
  2. 2 an artificial substance (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a substance made by people rather than found in nature, often used in food or cleaning.

    a synthetic or artificial compound, often contrasted with organic or natural materials in consumer contexts.

    Example

    I try to buy organic vegetables because they don't have as many chemicals.

    Example

    Public concern regarding the presence of harsh chemicals in household detergents has led to a surge in demand for plant-based alternatives.

    Teacher's tip

    In everyday conversation, people often use 'chemicals' to mean 'harmful or artificial substances' even though everything is technically made of chemicals.
    • natural product
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  1. 3 related to chemistry (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Academic Science

    related to the science of chemistry or how substances react with each other.

    relating to the properties, composition, and reactions of substances.

    Example

    The students wore goggles during the chemical experiment to protect their eyes.

    Example

    The researchers observed a significant chemical change when the two solutions were combined under high pressure.

  2. 4 synthetic or non-natural (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    made by a process in a factory rather than occurring naturally.

    produced by or involving synthetic processes; often used to distinguish manufactured items from natural ones.

    Example

    The farmer stopped using chemical fertilisers to improve the soil quality.

    Example

    The report highlights the long-term environmental impact of intensive chemical farming on local biodiversity.
Origin

From chemic (“alchemy”) + -al (“related to”).

Word family

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