Ethyl formate is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3H6O2. It is a colorless liquid, slightly soluble in water and soluble in most organic solvents, such as benzene, ethanol, and ether. It is primarily used as a solvent for acetic acid or nitrocellulose, as well as in flavor synthesis and pharmaceutical production.

Ethyl formate is used as a solvent for cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate, as well as a fungicide, larvicide, and fumigant for foods, cigarettes, cereals, and dried fruits. Ethyl formate is used as a flavoring agent to create aromas of peaches, bananas, apples, apricots, pineapples, and berries, and as a flavoring for butter, brandy, cordials, and whiskey. Ethyl formate is also an intermediate in organic synthesis. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, it is used in the production of the anti-tumor drug fulvestrant and vitamin B1. Ethyl formate is condensed with acetone in a sodium methoxide-xylene solution to produce sodium acetylenol. This condensation with acetylglycine ester and subsequent cyclization with potassium thiocyanate produces ethyl 2-mercaptoimidazole-4-carboxylate. Ethyl formate is used to produce drugs such as houttuynia cordata, anthracene, anadrol, thiabendazole, thiabendazole, levothyroxine, and fully synthetic anisodamine.