ethylene

noun

eth·​yl·​ene ˈe-thə-ˌlēn 

1

: a colorless flammable gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon C₂H₄ that is found in coal gas, can be produced by pyrolysis of petroleum hydrocarbons, and occurs in plants functioning especially as a natural growth regulator that promotes the ripening of fruit

2

: a divalent hydrocarbon group C₂H₄ derived from ethane

ethylenic

ˌe-thə-ˈlē-nik  -ˈle-nik 

adjective

Examples of ethylene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many byproducts of the oil and gas industry are essential for making solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, including plastics like ethylene and polypropylene, and sulfuric acid (used to process copper), S&P Global noted. —Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 4 May 2026

Today, roughly half of the global ethylene and polyethylene supply is stranded, constrained, or directly affected by the halt to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial transit point for 20% of the world’s crude. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026

The apple adds ethylene, and the paper bag traps ethylene produced by both the apple and the avocado. —Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026

Six petrochemicals - ethylene, propylene, butylene, benzene, toluene and xylenes - are the major foundations of plastics and synthetic materials like nylon and polyesters, which manufacturers in turn use to design and deliver products. —CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ethylene

• ethylene dibromide
• ethylene glycol
• ethylene oxide

Rhymes for ethylene

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids Definition

ethylene

noun

eth·​yl·​ene ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn 

: a colorless flammable gas found in coal gas or obtained from petroleum and used to ripen fruits or as an anesthetic

Medical Definition

ethylene

noun

eth·​yl·​ene ˈeth-ə-ˌlēn 

1

: a colorless flammable gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon C₂H₄ that is found in coal gas, can be produced by pyrolysis of petroleum hydrocarbons, is used in medicine as a general inhalation anesthetic, and occurs in plants functioning especially as a natural growth regulator that promotes the ripening of fruit

called also ethene

2

: a divalent hydrocarbon group C₂H₄ derived from ethane

ethylenic

ˌeth-ə-ˈlē-nik  -ˈlen-ik 

adjective

ethylenically

-ˈlē-ni-k(ə-)lē  -ˈlen-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb