Petrol vs. Gas: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 12, 2023
Petrol, known as gasoline in the U.S., is a liquid fuel for engines; gas can refer to various gaseous substances, including natural gas used for heating.
Key Differences
Petrol is a term primarily utilized in the UK and some other regions to describe what Americans commonly refer to as gasoline. It's a refined product from crude oil and serves as the primary fuel in internal combustion engines found in most vehicles. On the other hand, the word "gas" in American English often refers to gasoline, which can be confusing to those from other parts of the world.
Gas, in a broader context, represents any substance in a state where it expands freely to fill the whole container, devoid of a definite shape. Examples include oxygen, nitrogen, and helium. Additionally, "gas" can pertain to "natural gas," a fossil fuel used primarily for heating and electricity generation.
While petrol is specifically a liquid used for a particular purpose (fueling vehicles), gas encompasses a wider range of materials, from the air we breathe to fuels for various utilities. It's crucial to contextualize the word "gas" as its meaning can shift depending on the situation.
In summation, while petrol refers exclusively to a type of liquid fuel, gas has a more versatile application, spanning from a state of matter to a shorthand reference for various gaseous substances and fuels.
Comparison Chart
State of Matter
Liquid
Gaseous
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Primary Use
Fuel for vehicles
Wide range (fuel, industrial, etc.)
Origin of Term
UK and other regions
Universal, but gasoline in the U.S.
Source
Refined from crude oil
Various (e.g., natural gas)
Associated Terms
Gasoline (U.S.), Fuel
Natural gas, air components
Petrol and Gas Definitions
Petrol
A transparent, petroleum-derived liquid that is used primarily as a fuel.
The petrol station is a few miles away.
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Gas
Any substance, like oxygen or nitrogen, in the gaseous state.
Humans need to breathe oxygen gas to live.
Petrol
A liquid derived from petroleum, used mainly as fuel in internal combustion engines.
I need to refill my car with petrol.
Gas
The state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by relatively low density and viscosity, relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature, the ability to diffuse readily, and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container.
Petrol
A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons.
Petrol prices have been fluctuating recently.
Gas
A substance in the gaseous state.
Petrol
The term used outside North America for gasoline.
In the UK, they call gasoline petrol.
Gas
Any of various mixtures of flammable gases used for lighting, heating, or cooking.
Petrol
Gasoline.
Gas
Gasoline.
Petrol
Petroleum, a fluid consisting of a mixture of refined petroleum hydrocarbons, primarily consisting of octane, commonly used as a motor fuel.
Gas
The speed control of a gasoline engine. Used with the
Step on the gas.
Petrol
(informal) A motor vehicle powered by petrol (as opposed to diesel).
Gas
A gaseous asphyxiant, irritant, or poison.
Petrol
Petroleum.
Gas
A gaseous anesthetic, such as nitrous oxide.
Petrol
A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines
Gas
Flatulence.
Petrol
A refined product of crude oil serving as a vehicular fuel.
This mower runs on petrol, not electricity.
Gas
Flatus.
Gas
(Slang) Idle or boastful talk.
Gas
(Slang) Someone or something exceptionally exciting or entertaining
The party was a gas.
Gas
To treat chemically with gas.
Gas
To overcome, disable, or kill with poisonous fumes.
Gas
To give off gas.
Gas
(Slang) To talk excessively.
Gas
Matter in an intermediate state between liquid and plasma that can be contained only if it is fully surrounded by a solid (or in a bubble of liquid, or held together by gravitational pull); it can condense into a liquid, or can (rarely) become a solid directly by deposition.
A lot of gas had escaped from the cylinder.
Gas
(uncountable) A flammable gaseous hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture used as a fuel, e.g. for cooking, heating, electricity generation or as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles, especially natural gas.
Gas-fired power stations have largely replaced coal-burning ones.
Gas
Poison gas.
The artillery fired gas shells into the enemy trenches.
Gas
A chemical element or compound in such a state.
The atmosphere is made up of a number of different gases.
Gas
(countable) A hob on a gas cooker.
She turned the gas on, put the potatoes on, then lit the oven.
Gas
(uncountable) Methane or other waste gases trapped in one's belly as a result of the digestive process; flatus.
My tummy hurts so bad – I have gas.
Gas
(slang) A humorous or entertaining event or person.
Gas
(slang) Frothy or boastful talk; chatter.
Gas
(baseball) A fastball.
The closer threw him nothing but gas.
Gas
Arterial or venous blood gas.
Gas
Marijuana, typically of high quality.
Gas
, a light derivative of petroleum used as fuel.
Gas
Ellipsis of gas pedal
Gas
An internal virtual currency used in Ethereum to pay for certain operations, such as blockchain transactions.
Gas fee
Gas
(transitive) To attack or kill with poison gas.
The Nazis gassed millions of Jews during the Holocaust.
He never fully recovered after he was gassed on the Western Front.
Gas
To talk in a boastful or vapid way; chatter.
Gas
To impose upon by talking boastfully.
Gas
(intransitive) To emit gas.
The battery cell was gassing.
Gas
(transitive) To impregnate with gas.
To gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder
Gas
(transitive) To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers.
To gas thread
Gas
(US) To give a vehicle more fuel in order to accelerate it.
The cops are coming. Gas it!
Gas
(US) To fill (a vehicle's fuel tank) with fuel.
Gas
(slang) comical, zany; fun, amusing.
Mary's new boyfriend is a gas man.
It was gas when the bird flew into the classroom.
Gas
An aëriform fluid; - a term used at first by chemists as synonymous with air, but since restricted to fluids supposed to be permanently elastic, as oxygen, hydrogen, etc., in distinction from vapors, as steam, which become liquid on a reduction of temperature. In present usage, since all of the supposed permanent gases have been liquified by cold and pressure, the term has resumed nearly its original signification, and is applied to any substance in the elastic or aëriform state.
Gas
A complex mixture of gases, of which the most important constituents are marsh gas, olefiant gas, and hydrogen, artificially produced by the destructive distillation of gas coal, or sometimes of peat, wood, oil, resin, etc. It gives a brilliant light when burned, and is the common gas used for illuminating purposes.
Gas
Same as gasoline; - a shortened form. Also, the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".
Gas
The accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".
Gas
Same as natural gas.
Gas
An exceptionally enjoyable event; a good time; as, The concert was a gas.
Gas
To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers; as, to gas thread.
Gas
To impregnate with gas; as, to gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder.
Gas
To expose to a poisonous or noxious gas
Gas
The state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container
Gas
A fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely
Gas
A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines
Gas
A state of excessive gas in the alimentary canal
Gas
A pedal that controls the throttle valve;
He stepped on the gas
Gas
A fossil fuel in the gaseous state; used for cooking and heating homes
Gas
Attack with gas; subject to gas fumes;
The despot gassed the rebellious tribes
Gas
Show off
Gas
A substance in an air-like state without a definite shape or volume.
Helium gas is lighter than air.
Gas
Short for gasoline in American English, referring to the fuel for vehicles.
I need to get gas for my car.
Gas
A flammable substance, like methane, used as fuel or for heating.
We use natural gas to heat our home.
Gas
A colloquial term for something non-tangible, often indicating something amusing or entertaining.
That joke was a gas!
FAQs
Does gas always refer to gasoline?
No, gas can mean various gaseous substances, but in the U.S., it often refers to gasoline.
Is petrol a term used globally?
No, petrol is commonly used in the UK, while the U.S. uses the term gasoline.
Are petrol and diesel the same?
No, they are different types of vehicle fuels.
What is petrol commonly used for?
Petrol is primarily used as fuel for vehicles.
Can gas refer to humor in certain contexts?
Yes, in colloquial American English, "a gas" can mean something is very funny.
Is petrol a type of hydrocarbon?
Yes, petrol consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons.
Is natural gas the same as the gas used in cars?
No, cars use gasoline (or petrol), while natural gas is primarily methane.
How is gas used in homes?
Gas, especially natural gas, is used for heating, cooking, and sometimes for electricity generation.
Can gas exist in a liquid state?
Yes, when cooled or compressed, some gases can become liquids.
Why is gasoline called petrol in some regions?
Linguistic differences and historical terminologies account for the variation.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
