# petrochemical

/ˌpɛtɹoʊˈkɛmɪkəɫ/ (US) · /pˌɛtɹəʊkˈɛmɪkəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/petrochemical
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a chemical made from oil or natural gas. These chemicals are used to make things like plastics, paints, and fuels.

For teachers: a chemical compound derived from petroleum or natural gas. Often used as a raw material in the production of synthetic materials and industrial solvents.

## Examples

- The factory produces various petrochemicals for the local market.
- The rise in global demand for petrochemicals has led to a significant increase in the price of crude oil.
- The development of advanced petrochemical refining techniques has allowed the industry to extract more valuable byproducts from the same volume of raw crude than was previously possible.

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