natural gas

IPA/ˌnætʃrəl ˈɡæs/
IPA/ˌnætʃrəl ˈɡæs/

natural gas — noun

1. a combustible substance trapped in rock formations beneath the earth's surface,

1.nounB1
Definition

a combustible substance trapped in rock formations beneath the earth's surface, consisting mainly of methane, that is extracted by drilling and burned to supply energy for heating, cooking, and electricity generation

Example

Many homes in the UK use natural gas for central heating and hot water.

collocation: use natural gas for [purpose]

The government raised taxes on natural gas to encourage solar and wind power.

uncountable noun used without article in generic sense

Common collocations
  • use natural gas
  • burn natural gas
  • natural gas field
  • natural gas pipeline
  • natural gas supply
  • natural gas industry
  • extract natural gas
  • natural gas company
  • natural gas heating
  • natural gas-fired power plant
Synonyms
  • gas

    shorter everyday form, but can also mean petrol (American English) or other gases

  • fossil fuel

    broader category that also includes coal and oil; less specific

  • methane

    the main chemical component of natural gas, but not a synonym in everyday use

Antonyms
  • renewable energy

    contrasting energy source category (solar, wind, hydro)

  • coal

    contrasting fossil fuel that burns less cleanly

Usage Note

Uncountable — you cannot say 'a natural gas' or 'two natural gases'. To refer to a specific type or source, use phrases like 'a type of natural gas' or 'natural gas from Russia'.

Common Mistakes

We cook with a natural gas.
We cook with natural gas.
Natural gas is uncountable; do not use 'a' before it.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Gas' is the shortest everyday alternative, common in phrases like 'gas stove' or 'gas bill', but it can cause confusion because in American English 'gas' also means petrol for cars. 'Fossil fuel' is a broad category covering coal, oil, and natural gas — use it when contrasting with renewable sources rather than when naming a specific energy type. 'Methane' is the main chemical component (CH4) of natural gas, but it is a scientific term used by chemists or in climate discussions, not in everyday conversation. 'Propane' is a separate gas often stored in tanks for barbecues or rural heating; it is a by-product of natural gas processing but is not the same substance. If you are talking about heating your home, 'natural gas' (or simply 'gas' in British English) is the correct choice.

gas ↗fossil fuel ↗methane ↗propane

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • supply of natural gas
  • demand for natural gas
  • natural gas-fired power plant

Etymology

GreekLatinDutchEnglish

The word 'natural' comes from Latin 'naturalis' (by birth, according to nature). The word 'gas' was invented in the 1600s by the Flemish chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont, who adapted it from the Greek word 'chaos'. He used it to describe a substance that could not be held in a container like a liquid or solid. The compound 'natural gas' was first used in English in the early 1800s to distinguish gas found in nature from 'manufactured gas' made from coal.

First known use

1825

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1