What does naphtha mean?
Naphtha is a volatile and highly flammable substance made from hydrocarbons found in petroleum or coal tar. Historically, it was widely used as a solvent for cleaning grease, paint, and other materials, and it also served as fuel in certain lamps and engines. Because it evaporates quickly and can form dangerous vapours, modern handling requires good ventilation and careful storage. The word remains important in industrial, chemical, and historical contexts, even though its everyday use has declined. Its name is also reflected in related chemical terms such as naphthol and naphthyl compounds, which are used in the manufacture of dyes, plastics, and other products.
nounA volatile, flammable mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum or coal tar, formerly used as a solvent and fuel. In modern usage, the term often refers to a light petroleum distillate similar to mineral spirit.
- A volatile, flammable hydrocarbon mixture used as a solvent or fuel.
- By extension, a light petroleum distillate used industrially and historically in lamps and engines.
"The old factory used naphtha to clean grease from its machinery."
"Workers wore protective gloves because naphtha can irritate the skin and produce harmful vapours."
"The solvent was stored in a metal cabinet before the paint shop was cleaned."
Usually used in the plural when referring to different types or samples of naphtha; the singular is standard for the substance generally.
"The laboratory tested several naphthas for purity and solvent performance."
Naphtha was once a familiar household solvent—and its name survives in the modern chemistry of plastics and dyes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does naphtha come from?
The word entered English through Latin and Greek forms of naphtha, which in turn came from Persian naft, meaning a petroleum or bituminous substance. Ancient and medieval writers used the term for naturally occurring oily or flammable substances. By the early modern period, naphtha had developed into a name for volatile petroleum products used as fuels and solvents. Modern chemistry later adopted the same root in names for related hydrocarbons and chemical groups.
How naphtha is actually used
The term is now mainly technical or historical. In British and American usage, it may describe a petroleum distillate or a specific industrial solvent, and the exact composition can vary by context.
Easily confused with naphtha
Naphtha is a volatile solvent or light petroleum distillate, whereas kerosene is a fuel oil intended primarily for burning in lamps and engines.