A compound radical, C6H5.CH2, related to toluene and benzoic acid; -- commonly used adjectively.

the univalent radical derived from toluene

In organic chemistry, benzyl is the term for the radical, ion or functional group C6H5CH2, which can be obtained formally by removing a hydrogen atom from toluene's methyl group. The benzyl functional group is sometimes abbreviated "Bn", not to be confused with "Bz", which is short for the benzoyl group. For example, benzyl alcohol can be abbreviated to BnOH.