refinery

noun

re·​fin·​ery ri-ˈfī-nə-rē How to pronounce refinery (audio)
-ˈfīn-rē
plural refineries
: a building and equipment for refining or processing something (such as oil or sugar)

Examples of refinery 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.
Iran also hit a water desalination plant and an oil refinery in Kuwait. Npr Staff, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026 Past disruptions at the refinery have disrupted petroleum product supply and raised energy prices in the Chicago market, according to the letter and Energy Information Association. Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 Following the price gouging session, two major refineries — Valero in the San Francisco Bay Area and Wilmington Phillips 66 in the Los Angeles area — have shut down, taking hundreds of jobs and nearly one-fifth of the state's gasoline production with them. Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 Kuwait said this morning that Iranian attacks hit a desalination plant and an oil refinery. Max Burman, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refinery

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of refinery was circa 1741

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Cite this Entry

“Refinery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refinery. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

refinery

noun
re·​fin·​ery ri-ˈfīn-(ə-)rē How to pronounce refinery (audio)
plural refineries
: a building and equipment for refining metals, oil, or sugar

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