petrol

noun

pet·​rol ˈpe-trəl How to pronounce petrol (audio)
-ˌträl
chiefly British

Examples of petrol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web New petrol and diesel cars are set to be banned from 2035 under the Prime Minister’s net zero strategy. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 11 Feb. 2024 Maintenance averages at $910 a year, bringing the total to $2,730 for a petrol car. The Conversation, Ars Technica, 18 Nov. 2023 For petrol heads, here is further proof of what electric innovation can do to improve ICE before the ban hits sales next decade. Jeremy White, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2023 According to Reuters, Aoba set the anime studio on fire by dousing the entrance area of the building with petrol. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024 Global sales of petrol and diesel cars peaked half a decade ago, and the IEA estimated that almost one in five cars sold globally in 2023 were electric. Hannah Ritchie, WIRED, 17 Jan. 2024 But while the car is convenient, these short trips add up in terms of emissions, pollution, and petrol cost. The Conversation, Ars Technica, 18 Nov. 2023 That means the front grille, a classic component of petrol cars, is entirely unnecessary. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 13 Dec. 2023 The tunic is available in powder, very black, classic navy, and dark petrol (a dark teal). Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petrol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French pétrole "petroleum, any of various products distilled from petroleum," going back to Old French petteroile, petrole "mineral oil, petroleum," borrowed from Medieval Latin petroleum — more at petroleum

Note: The use of the word in English is apparently owed to a cooperative endeavor by the British distilling and oil refining firm Carless, Capel and Leonard and the engineer Frederick Richard Simms, who had purchased the rights to Gottlieb Daimler's gasoline-powered engine. Though an attempt to register petrol as a trademark was unsuccessful, Carless, Capel and Leonard continued to use it as a marketing name. Note that French pétrole (rather than essence de pétrole) is used for distilled petroleum products by Gustave Richard in Les nouveaux moteurs à gaz et à pétrole (Paris, 1892). The now usual French word essence for "gasoline" is shortened from essence de pétrole.

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petrol was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near petrol

Cite this Entry

“Petrol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petrol. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

petrol

noun
pet·​rol ˈpe-trəl How to pronounce petrol (audio)
-ˌträl
chiefly British

More from Merriam-Webster on petrol

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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