WordGarden.iopetrol
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɛtrəl/
US
- /ˈpɛtroʊl/
Meanings
Noun
gasoline used as fuel for cars and other vehicles
Beyond the definition
"Petrol" is the word many people use for gasoline, especially in Britain, Australia, India, and many other countries. It is the liquid fuel that cars, motorcycles, and some other vehicles use to run. In the United States and Canada, people usually call it "gas" or "gasoline," but the meaning is the same.
You might hear someone say, "Petrol prices are going up," or "We're running low on petrol," just before stopping at a petrol station. The word usually means the fuel in a vehicle's tank, though people also use it when talking about driving costs, fuel shortages, or daily travel.
"Petrol" is the common word in many parts of the world for gasoline, the liquid fuel used mainly in cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles with internal combustion engines. While "gasoline" is the usual term in North America, "petrol" is widely used across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, and many other places.
The word comes from "petroleum." Crude oil is taken from the ground, and petrol is made from it through refining. In everyday life, people use the word in practical, familiar ways: filling the tank, checking prices, worrying about rising fuel costs, or planning how far they can drive before the next stop.
The word can also be used for fuel in smaller machines, such as lawnmowers, portable generators, and some boats. You will often see it in common phrases like "petrol station," "petrol prices," "petrol tank," and "unleaded petrol." In news and conversation, it often appears when people talk about transport, household costs, shortages, and the wider energy market.
Beyond its basic meaning, the word can carry a strong everyday feeling: the stop at a roadside station, the smell around the pump, or the start of a long drive. It is a simple word for a very ordinary thing, but it also connects to bigger ideas such as mobility, modern life, and our continued use of fossil fuels.
Examples
- 1
Road travel
I need to stop for petrol before we get on the motorway.
- Usage
In American English, people usually say gas.
- 2
Empty tank
The car ran out of petrol two miles from home.
- 3
Directions
Is there a petrol station near here?
- 4
Fuel prices
Petrol prices have gone up again this week.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Garage storage
She kept a small can of petrol in the garage for the lawnmower.
- 6
Spill smell
The air smelled of petrol after the spill.
- 7
Car type
He drives a petrol car, not an electric one.
- 8
Figurative conflict
His angry reply only poured petrol on the flames.
- Phrasepour petrol on the flames
make a bad or angry situation worse
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- petrolnoun