Definition

A type of fuel made from refined crude oil, commonly used in vehicles and engines.

Example

I need to stop and fill up the car with petrol before we continue our journey.

Conversation

Did you see the price of petrol lately?

Yeah, it’s getting really high!

I know, I might need to start cycling instead.

That sounds like a good idea; it would save money on petrol.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Petrol comes from the French word 'pétrole', which is derived from the Latin 'petroleum', where 'petra' means rock and 'oleum' means oil. Thus, petrol refers to oil derived from rock, specifically fossil fuels.

Memory Tip

Think of 'rock' ('petra') and 'oil' ('oleum') to remember that petrol is oil that comes from rock.

Visually Confused Words