1. Hydrocarbons containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds; alkenes.
Usage: chemistry; plural form of olefin; also called alkenes

Examples

• Ethylene and propylene are common olefins used in the chemical industry.
• Olefins are important raw materials for producing plastics and synthetic fibers.
• The reaction of olefins with bromine produces a color change that can be used as a test.
• Many olefins are derived from crude oil refining.
• Olefins contain at least one C=C double bond in their molecular structure.