chemical

[ kem-i-kuhl ]

noun

1. a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.
2. chemicals, Slang. narcotic or mind-altering drugs or substances.

adjective

1. of, used in, produced by, or concerned with chemistry or chemicals:

   a chemical formula; chemical agents.

2. used in chemical warfare:

   chemical weapons.

chemical

/ ˈkɛmɪkəl /

noun

1. any substance used in or resulting from a reaction involving changes to atoms or molecules, especially one derived artificially for practical use

adjective

1. of or used in chemistry

   chemical balance

2. of, made from, or using chemicals

   chemical fertilizer

chemical

/ kĕm′ĭ-kəl /

Adjective

1. Relating to or produced by means of chemistry.

Noun

1. A substance having a specific molecular composition, obtained by or used in a chemical process.

Derived Forms

• ˈchemically, adverb

Other Words From

• chemi·cal·ly adverb
• non·chemi·cal adjective noun
• pre·chemi·cal adjective
• pseudo·chemi·cal adjective
• semi·chemi·cal adjective
• semi·chemi·cal·ly adverb
• super·chemi·cal adjective noun
• super·chemi·cal·ly adverb
• un·chemi·cal adjective
• un·chemi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemical¹

1570–80; chemic + -al ¹; replacing chimical chemic

Example Sentences

In that same year, she said in an interview with CNN that she was "sceptical" that the Syrian regime was behind a chemical weapons attack which killed dozens of people.

From BBC

Trump said there could be "no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons".

From BBC

And if Beijing cleans up its chemical industry, the business may simply move to India, where corruption can be even more endemic, or perhaps another country.

From Salon

In 1982, the Republican president appointed chemical manufacturing CEO J. Peter Grace to head a panel to study how the government could be made more efficient.

From Los Angeles Times

Calling all Angel-emos: My Chemical Romance is celebrating its seminal album “The Black Parade” with a stadium tour slated for next summer.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• synthetic