noun Common

chemicals

KEHM-ih-kuhlz

Chemicals (noun) means Substances used or produced in chemistry, especially manufactured compounds rather than natural ones. Example: “The factory stores its chemicals in a locked warehouse.”

noun

Substances used or produced in chemistry, especially manufactured compounds rather than natural ones.

"The factory stores its chemicals in a locked warehouse."

"She avoids food with artificial chemicals in it."

The chemical industry as a whole.

"He spent his career working in chemicals before moving into pharmaceuticals."

How to use chemicals

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishManufactured or processed substances used in industry, cleaning, or food production — or, informally, the industry that makes them.

Common pairings

household chemicals industrial chemicals work in chemicals

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The factory stores its _____ in a locked warehouse.

Synonyms

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compounds substances reagents agents solvents

Frequently asked questions

What does “chemicals” mean?

The word “chemicals” means substances used or produced in chemistry, especially manufactured compounds rather than natural ones. In plain terms, manufactured or processed substances used in industry, cleaning, or food production — or, informally, the industry that makes them.

How do you pronounce “chemicals”?

“Chemicals” is pronounced KEHM-ih-kuhlz (/ˈkɛm.ɪ.kəlz/ in IPA).

How do you use “chemicals” in a sentence?

Here is “chemicals” used in a sentence: “The factory stores its chemicals in a locked warehouse.”

What part of speech is “chemicals”?

“Chemicals” is a noun.

Is “chemicals” a common word?

“Chemicals” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “chemicals” have?

“Chemicals” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: substances used or produced in chemistry, especially manufactured compounds rather than natural ones.

What is the difference between chemicals and compounds?

'Chemicals' is a broad, everyday term for substances used or produced in chemistry, especially manufactured ones. A 'compound' is a more precise scientific term for a substance made of two or more elements chemically bonded together. All compounds are chemicals, but 'chemicals' also loosely covers elements and mixtures.

Are all substances chemicals?

In strict scientific terms, virtually all matter is made of chemicals, including water and air. In everyday usage, though, 'chemicals' often implies manufactured or synthetic compounds rather than natural substances, which is why people contrast 'chemicals' with 'natural' ingredients even though that line is not scientific.