chemical

American  

[kem-i-kuhl] / ˈkɛm ɪ kəl /

noun

1. a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.

2. Slang. chemicals, narcotic or mind-altering drugs or substances.

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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 British  

/ 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

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adjective

1. of or used in chemistry

   chemical balance

2. of, made from, or using chemicals

   chemical fertilizer

chemical Scientific  

/ kĕm′ĭ-kəl /

1. Relating to or produced by means of chemistry.

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

Other Word Forms

• chemically adverb
• nonchemical adjective
• prechemical adjective
• pseudochemical adjective
• semichemical adjective
• semichemically adverb
• superchemical adjective
• superchemically adverb
• unchemical adjective
• unchemically adverb

Etymology

Origin of chemical

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

Example Sentences

Shilling and his wife, Nanci Shilling, who works in an accounting department at a different chemical plant, bring in about $220,000 a year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

They also are sensitive to environmental conditions and can change chemical composition if stored at the wrong temperatures or shaken too vigorously, increasing the risk of an immune response or decreasing their effectiveness.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Some microbial mats thrive in deep, dark environments by feeding on chemical energy rather than sunlight.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

So, too, did Kimberly Wise White, vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at the American Chemistry Council, the trade group for the chemical industry.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

In the 1920s, scientists were just beginning to understand living systems in chemical terms.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• synthetic