petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm 
-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
Chemical products plus petroleum and coal products are tied for second at 13 percent, followed by cars at about 10 percent.
—
Nick Mordowanec
mandy Taheri
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The United States sought to cap Russia’s oil revenues while preserving the country’s petroleum exports to limit the damage from the inflation that the war produced.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Russia’s revenues from oil exports declined to a near two-year low in April, earning $13.2 billion from crude and petroleum sales.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Despite Trump imposing 10% tariffs on Colombian exports like petroleum and coffee, many business leaders want to prioritize the country’s relationship with the U.S., fearing China cannot replace it as an export market.
—Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for petroleum
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Nick Mordowanec
mandy Taheri
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The United States sought to cap Russia’s oil revenues while preserving the country’s petroleum exports to limit the damage from the inflation that the war produced.
—Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Russia’s revenues from oil exports declined to a near two-year low in April, earning $13.2 billion from crude and petroleum sales.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Despite Trump imposing 10% tariffs on Colombian exports like petroleum and coffee, many business leaders want to prioritize the country’s relationship with the U.S., fearing China cannot replace it as an export market.
—Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for petroleum
Cite this Entry
“Petroleum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petroleum. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
petroleum
noun
pe·tro·leum
pə-ˈtrō-lē-əm
-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
: 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
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