Travel / B1

PETR-uh-l/ˈpetrəl/

Petrol is UK car fuel for petrol engines: a petrol station; unleaded petrol; petrol prices. US English uses gasoline / gas; diesel is a different fuel. Do not pour petrol into a diesel car, and do not look for petrol on an electric vehicle (use a charge point). Petrolhead is informal for a car fan. IELTS transport essays often contrast petrol cars with public transport.

Meaning

The liquid fuel used in many cars (UK; US gasoline).

Examples

• “Petrol is more expensive on the motorway than in town.”
• “Petrol went up overnight after the pipeline news.”
• “This hire car takes petrol, not diesel — check the cap.”

Good to know

petrol station / prices; unleaded petrol. US: gasoline / gas. Other fuel: diesel. EVs: charge point, not petrol.

Near in meaning

gasoline

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