# refinery

/ɹɪˈfaɪnɝi/ (US) · /ɹɪfˈaɪnəɹˌi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/refinery
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a large factory where raw materials like oil or sugar are cleaned and turned into useful products. You usually find these in industrial areas near ports or oil fields.

For teachers: an industrial installation where crude substances, such as petroleum or sugar, are processed and purified into marketable products. Often used in technical or economic contexts regarding energy and commodities.

## Examples

- The oil refinery operates twenty-four hours a day.
- Local residents expressed concerns about the air quality near the new sugar refinery being built on the coast.
- The global supply chain for gasoline is highly sensitive to any mechanical failure or scheduled maintenance at a major regional refinery.

## Usage notes

- Often modified by the material being processed, such as 'oil refinery', 'sugar refinery', or 'metal refinery'.

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