chemical

1 of 2

adjective

chem·​i·​cal ˈke-mi-kəl How to pronounce chemical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry
chemical reactions
2
a
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
a chemical fire extinguisher
b
: detectable by chemical means
chemically
ˈke-mi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce chemical (audio)
adverb

chemical

2 of 2

noun

1
: a substance obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect
2
: drug sense 2

Examples of chemical in a Sentence

Adjective They studied the compound's chemical structure.
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.
Adjective
When using chemical methods to kill the shrub, be sure to protect desirable plants from overspray. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 For a full year, the couple tried to add another little one to the bunch but experienced two chemical pregnancies. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Noun
Most landscapes do not need pesticides to thrive, so put away the chemicals. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 July 2026 Lawson said her pool maintenance company dropped her as a client, citing worries that they'd be held responsible if a guest had a bad reaction to pool chemicals. — Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chemical

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

chemic or its source, Medieval Latin chimicus + -al entry 1

Noun

derivative of chemical entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemical was in 1576

Phrases Containing chemical

Rhymes for chemical

See All Rhymes for chemical

Browse Nearby Words

chemic
chemical
chemical abuse
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemical. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

chemical

1 of 2 adjective
chem·​i·​cal ˈkem-i-kəl How to pronounce chemical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
chemically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce chemical (audio)
adverb

chemical

2 of 2 noun
: a substance (as an element or compound) obtained from a chemical process or used to get a chemical result

Medical Definition

chemical

1 of 2 adjective
chem·​i·​cal ˈkem-i-kəl How to pronounce chemical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
a
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
b
: detectable by chemical means
chemically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce chemical (audio)
adverb

chemical

2 of 2 noun
1
: a substance (as an element or chemical compound) obtained by a chemical process or used for producing a chemical effect
2
: drug sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on chemical

Nglish: Translation of chemical for Spanish Speakers

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