petroleum
5 synonyms for petroleum, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A naturally occurring liquid found underground, made mostly of hydrocarbons, that is refined into fuels like petrol and diesel.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
crude oil
rock oil
black gold
How to use petroleum
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
crude petroleum
petroleum industry
petroleum jelly
Etymology
From Medieval Latin petroleum, from Greek petra ("rock") plus elaion ("oil") — "rock oil."
Full origin of petroleum →Frequently asked questions
What does “petroleum” mean?
The word “petroleum” means a naturally occurring liquid found underground, made mostly of hydrocarbons, that is refined into fuels like petrol and diesel. In plain terms, crude oil — the raw natural substance that gets refined into petrol, diesel, and other products.
How do you pronounce “petroleum”?
“Petroleum” is pronounced puh-TROH-lee-uhm (/pəˈtɹoʊliəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “petroleum” in a sentence?
Here is “petroleum” used in a sentence: “The country's economy depends heavily on petroleum exports.”
What part of speech is “petroleum”?
“Petroleum” is a noun.
Where does the word “petroleum” come from?
The word “petroleum” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin petroleum, from Greek petra ("rock") plus elaion ("oil") — "rock oil.".
Is “petroleum” a common word?
“Petroleum” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between petroleum and crude oil?
The terms overlap heavily: crude oil is petroleum in its raw, unrefined state as it comes out of the ground. 'Petroleum' can refer to that raw material as well as to the broader family of hydrocarbons refined from it.
What is the difference between petroleum and petrol?
Petroleum is the raw underground liquid made mostly of hydrocarbons, while petrol is one of the fuels refined from it. In American English petrol is called 'gasoline,' but both are products made from petroleum.
What products are made from petroleum?
Petroleum is refined into fuels such as petrol (gasoline) and diesel, which is its core dictionary sense. It also serves as the raw material for products like plastics, lubricants, and asphalt.
Is petroleum a fossil fuel?
Yes, petroleum is classed as a fossil fuel: a naturally occurring liquid found underground and made mostly of hydrocarbons. Along with coal and natural gas, it is one of the main fossil fuels used for energy.
