petrol
PEHT-ruhl
Petrol (noun) means a refined liquid fuel made from petroleum, used to power most cars and small engines (called "gasoline" or "gas" in American English). Example: “We stopped to fill the tank with petrol before the motorway.”
noun
1
A refined liquid fuel made from petroleum, used to power most cars and small engines (called "gasoline" or "gas" in American English).
"We stopped to fill the tank with petrol before the motorway."
"Petrol prices have gone up again this month."
"The car ran out of petrol just outside the village."
How to use petrol
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe fuel used in most cars — called "gas" or "gasoline" in the US.
UK vs US
British English uses "petrol"; American English uses "gas" or "gasoline." A "petrol station" is a "gas station" in the US.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
petrol station
unleaded petrol
petrol tank
petrol price
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Word forms
- Plural
- petrols
- Third person singular
- petrols
- Past tense
- petroled, petrolled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We stopped to fill the tank with _____ before the motorway.
Etymology
From French pétrole, ultimately from Greek petra ("rock") plus elaion ("oil") — literally "rock oil."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “petrol” mean?
The word “petrol” means a refined liquid fuel made from petroleum, used to power most cars and small engines (called "gasoline" or "gas" in American English). In plain terms, the fuel used in most cars — called "gas" or "gasoline" in the US.
How do you pronounce “petrol”?
“Petrol” is pronounced PEHT-ruhl (/ˈpɛt.ɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “petrol” in a sentence?
Here is “petrol” used in a sentence: “We stopped to fill the tank with petrol before the motorway.”
What is another word for “petrol”?
Words with a similar meaning to “petrol” include gasoline and gas.
What part of speech is “petrol”?
“Petrol” is a noun.
Where does the word “petrol” come from?
The word “petrol” comes from French. From French pétrole, ultimately from Greek petra ("rock") plus elaion ("oil") — literally "rock oil.".
Is “petrol” a common word?
“Petrol” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between petrol and gasoline?
Petrol and gasoline are the same refined liquid fuel made from petroleum; the difference is purely regional terminology. "Petrol" is the standard term in British English, while "gasoline" or "gas" is used in American English.
Is petrol the same as diesel?
No, petrol and diesel are different fuels used in different types of engines. Petrol is the refined liquid fuel used to power most cars and small engines in British English usage, while diesel is a separate, denser fuel used in diesel engines.
Do Americans say petrol or gas?
Americans say gasoline or gas rather than petrol. Petrol is the British English term for the same refined liquid fuel used to power most cars and small engines.
