Petrol vs. Gas: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || 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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
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.
Harlon Moss
Oct 12, 2023
Comparison Chart
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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.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 12, 2023
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Gas
Any substance, like oxygen or nitrogen, in the gaseous state.
Humans need to breathe oxygen gas to live.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 12, 2023
Petrol
A liquid derived from petroleum, used mainly as fuel in internal combustion engines.
I need to refill my car with petrol.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 12, 2023
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Petrol
A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons.
Petrol prices have been fluctuating recently.
Janet White
Oct 12, 2023
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Petrol
The term used outside North America for gasoline.
In the UK, they call gasoline petrol.
Janet White
Oct 12, 2023
Gas
Any of various mixtures of flammable gases used for lighting, heating, or cooking.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Petrol
Petroleum, a fluid consisting of a mixture of refined petroleum hydrocarbons, primarily consisting of octane, commonly used as a motor fuel.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Petrol
A refined product of crude oil serving as a vehicular fuel.
This mower runs on petrol, not electricity.
Sara Rehman
Oct 12, 2023
Gas
(Slang) Someone or something exceptionally exciting or entertaining
The party was a gas.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
A chemical element or compound in such a state.
The atmosphere is made up of a number of different gases.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
(countable) A hob on a gas cooker.
She turned the gas on, put the potatoes on, then lit the oven.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
An internal virtual currency used in Ethereum to pay for certain operations, such as blockchain transactions.
Gas fee
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
(transitive) To impregnate with gas.
To gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
(transitive) To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers.
To gas thread
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
(US) To give a vehicle more fuel in order to accelerate it.
The cops are coming. Gas it!
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
(slang) comical, zany; fun, amusing.
Mary's new boyfriend is a gas man.
It was gas when the bird flew into the classroom.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
Same as gasoline; - a shortened form. Also, the accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
The accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle; used in the term " step on the gas".
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
An exceptionally enjoyable event; a good time; as, The concert was a gas.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers; as, to gas thread.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
To impregnate with gas; as, to gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
A fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
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
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
Attack with gas; subject to gas fumes;
The despot gassed the rebellious tribes
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2022
Gas
A substance in an air-like state without a definite shape or volume.
Helium gas is lighter than air.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
Gas
Short for gasoline in American English, referring to the fuel for vehicles.
I need to get gas for my car.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
Gas
A flammable substance, like methane, used as fuel or for heating.
We use natural gas to heat our home.
Harlon Moss
Oct 12, 2023
Gas
A colloquial term for something non-tangible, often indicating something amusing or entertaining.
That joke was a gas!
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
FAQs
Does gas always refer to gasoline?
No, gas can mean various gaseous substances, but in the U.S., it often refers to gasoline.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
Is petrol a term used globally?
No, petrol is commonly used in the UK, while the U.S. uses the term gasoline.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
Are petrol and diesel the same?
No, they are different types of vehicle fuels.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
What is petrol commonly used for?
Petrol is primarily used as fuel for vehicles.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
Can gas refer to humor in certain contexts?
Yes, in colloquial American English, "a gas" can mean something is very funny.
Janet White
Oct 12, 2023
Is petrol a type of hydrocarbon?
Yes, petrol consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons.
Harlon Moss
Oct 12, 2023
Is natural gas the same as the gas used in cars?
No, cars use gasoline (or petrol), while natural gas is primarily methane.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 12, 2023
How is gas used in homes?
Gas, especially natural gas, is used for heating, cooking, and sometimes for electricity generation.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
Can gas exist in a liquid state?
Yes, when cooled or compressed, some gases can become liquids.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
Why is gasoline called petrol in some regions?
Linguistic differences and historical terminologies account for the variation.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 12, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
