petrochemical: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Specialised/Academic
Quick answer
What does “petrochemical” mean?
A chemical obtained from petroleum or natural gas, or relating to such chemicals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chemical obtained from petroleum or natural gas, or relating to such chemicals.
Refers to the industry, products, or processes involved in the production of chemicals from petroleum or natural gas feedstocks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. The term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical/industrial in both; associated with large-scale manufacturing, energy dependence, and environmental debates.
Frequency
Equally common in technical and business contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “petrochemical” in a Sentence
The [country]'s petrochemical [sector] is expanding.The plant produces [various] petrochemicals.Investment in petrochemical [infrastructure] is growing.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “petrochemical” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The government reviewed its petrochemical strategy.
American English
- The new petrochemical facility will create hundreds of jobs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussions of market trends, investments, and supply chains in the energy and manufacturing sectors.
Academic
Used in chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental science, and economics papers.
Everyday
Rare; appears in news about industry, energy, or environmental impact.
Technical
Precise reference to specific compounds (ethylene, propylene) or industrial processes like cracking.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “petrochemical”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “petrochemical”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “petrochemical”
- Confusing 'petrochemical' with 'petroleum' (the raw material vs. the derived chemical).
- Misspelling as 'petro-chemical' (hyphen is generally not used in modern English).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Petroleum' is the raw crude oil/natural gas. 'Petrochemicals' are the specific chemical compounds (like ethylene) derived from it.
Yes, commonly in phrases like 'petrochemical industry' or 'petrochemical plant', where it modifies a noun.
Plastics, synthetic fibres (polyester), fertilisers, solvents, detergents, and many pharmaceuticals.
Neutrally technical. Context gives connotation: positive in industry/economic growth; negative in environmental debates about pollution and fossil fuels.
A chemical obtained from petroleum or natural gas, or relating to such chemicals.
Petrochemical is usually technical/specialised/academic in register.
Petrochemical: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpetrəʊˈkemɪk(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpetroʊˈkemɪk(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PETRO (as in petroleum) + CHEMICAL = a chemical from petroleum.
Conceptual Metaphor
The building blocks of modern materials (as many plastics and synthetics derive from petrochemicals).
Practice
Quiz
Which sector is most closely associated with the term 'petrochemical'?