# nitrile

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈnaɪtɹaɪl/ · frequency rank #66,874

## Definitions
1. Any of a class of organic compounds containing a cyano functional group −C≡N; they are named as derivatives of the appropriate carboxylic acid.
2. A type of synthetic rubber formed by the copolymerization of acrylonitrile and butadiene: nitrile rubber.

## Etymology
Derived from benzonitrile which contains the −C≡N group. Benzonitrile was discovered and named by Hermann Fehling in 1844.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/nitrile