phenyl

noun

phe·​nyl ˈfe-nᵊl How to pronounce phenyl (audio) ˈfē- How to pronounce phenyl (audio)
: a monovalent aryl radical C6H5− derived from benzene by removal of one hydrogen atom
—often used in combination
phenylic
fi-ˈni-lik How to pronounce phenyl (audio)
adjective

Examples of phenyl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most abundant were the terpene hydrocarbons, monoterpene alcohols, phenyl propanoids, and phenols. —Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2010

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phenyl was circa 1850

Dictionary Entries Near phenyl

phentolamine

phenyl

phenylacetaldehyde

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Phenyl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenyl. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

phenyl

noun
phe·​nyl
ˈfen-ᵊl, ˈfēn-, British also ˈfē-ˌnīl
: a monovalent group C6H5 that is an aryl group derived from benzene by removal of one hydrogen atom
—often used in combination
phenylalanine

More from Merriam-Webster on phenyl

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about phenyl

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Is That Gratitude or Attitude? A Thanksgiving Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...