chem·i·cal
ˈke-mi-kəl 
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
1
: a substance obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect
2
Examples of chemical in a Sentence
Adjective
They studied the compound's chemical structure.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Sunscreen works by either absorbing or deflecting the sun’s UV rays to help prevent sunburn and skin cancer—chemical SPFs (which often contain active ingredients like avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate) absorb the rays, whereas mineral SPFs (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) reflect the rays.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025
Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
In the past, rubber infill made from recycled tires (which has been shown to contain several potentially hazardous chemicals, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds) was widely used as cushioning in sports turf.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chemical
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
The drug is based on research conducted at MIT by Giovanni Traverso, a gastroenterologist and mechanical engineer, and Robert Langer, a chemical engineer who has launched more than two dozen biotech companies.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Sunscreen works by either absorbing or deflecting the sun’s UV rays to help prevent sunburn and skin cancer—chemical SPFs (which often contain active ingredients like avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate) absorb the rays, whereas mineral SPFs (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) reflect the rays.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, ports, aerospace, and chemical fibers were among the worst-performing subsectors.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
In the past, rubber infill made from recycled tires (which has been shown to contain several potentially hazardous chemicals, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds) was widely used as cushioning in sports turf.
—Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chemical
Cite this Entry
“Chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemical. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chemical
1 of 2 adjective
chem·i·cal
ˈkem-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
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
1
: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry
2
a
: acting or operated or produced by chemicals
b
: detectable by chemical means
chemical
2 of 2 noun1
: a substance (as an element or chemical compound) obtained by a chemical process or used for producing a chemical effect
2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share