methane

noun

meth·​ane ˈme-ˌthān How to pronounce methane (audio)
 British usually  ˈmē-
: a colorless odorless flammable gaseous hydrocarbon CH4 that is a product of biological decomposition of organic matter and of the carbonization of coal, is used as a fuel and as a starting material in chemical synthesis, and is the simplest of the alkanes

Examples of methane in a Sentence

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.
Chef Yusuke Nomura crafts plant-forward kaiseki menus using local ingredients, thereby reducing methane emissions. Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025 These lakes and Titan's seas are filled with liquid hydrocarbons like ethane and methane rather than water. Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 July 2025 What’s more, converting to biodegradable plastics entirely could result in an increase in biodegradable waste in landfills — and with it emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, the authors wrote. Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025 When Bruegel babbled on anew about the methane, Negan filled him with the much-ballyhooed gas, then lit him on fire from the inside out. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for methane

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of methane was in 1867

Cite this Entry

“Methane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methane. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

methane

noun
meth·​ane ˈmeth-ˌān How to pronounce methane (audio)
: a colorless odorless flammable gas that consists of carbon and hydrogen and is produced by decay of organic matter

Medical Definition

methane

noun
meth·​ane
ˈmeth-ˌān, British usually ˈmē-ˌthān
: a colorless, odorless, flammable, gaseous hydrocarbon CH4 that is lighter than air, forms explosive mixtures with air or oxygen, and occurs naturally as a by-product of the decomposition of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria

called also marsh gas

More from Merriam-Webster on methane

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