Chemical — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈke-mi-kəl/ chem·i·cal

Meaning & Definition of Chemical

Chemical (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry
  2. acting or operated or produced by chemicals
  3. detectable by chemical means

Chemical (noun)

  1. a substance obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect
  2. drug

Word Forms of Chemical

Derived words: chemically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Chemical

chemic or its source, Medieval Latin chimicus + -al:1

First known use: 1576

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Chemical

Words & Phrases Containing Chemical

chemical castration, chemical engineering, chemical laser, chemical peel, chemical warfare, chemical weapon, chemical reaction, forever chemical

Frequently Asked Questions about Chemical

What does "Chemical" mean?

"Chemical" means of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry. It has 5 distinct senses.

Is "Chemical" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Chemical" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Chemical" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Chemical"?

"Chemical" is pronounced /ˈke-mi-kəl/ and divided into syllables as chem·i·cal.

What is the origin of the word "Chemical"?

"Chemical" comes from chemic or its source, Medieval Latin chimicus + -al:1. First known use: 1576.

What does "Chemical" mean as an adjective?

As an adjective, "Chemical" means: of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry; acting or operated or produced by chemicals; detectable by chemical means.

What does "Chemical" mean as a noun?

As a noun, "Chemical" means: a substance obtained by a chemical process or producing a chemical effect; drug.

Is "Chemical" an academic word?

Yes. "Chemical" is part of the 570-word Academic Word List (AWL), which contains vocabulary that appears frequently in university texts and in exams such as IELTS and TOEFL.