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Definition of petroleum

petroleum

/pəˈtroʊ.li.əm/
pe · tro · le · um
Plural:petroleums
•
Adjective:petrolic
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petroleum Lexical Profile

petroleum Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid mixture of hydrocarbons found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface, which is refined into various fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel, as well as chemical raw materials.

Example

"The country's economy relies heavily on the extraction and export of petroleum."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for petroleum

• Rhymes for petroleum

• Nearby Words

petrograd
petrohue
petrol
petroleum
petronia
petrorhagia
petticoat

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin petroleum, meaning 'rock oil,' formed from Latin petra ('rock,' from Ancient Greek pétra) and oleum ('oil').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Petroleum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/petroleum
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