oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or impregnated with oil
oily rags
b
: relatively high in naturally secreted oils
oily skin
oily hair
3
: excessively smooth or suave in manner
oilily adverb
oiliness noun

Examples of oily in a Sentence

The liquid has an oily feel. a pile of oily rags The salad dressing was very oily.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He was covered in an oily substance, terrified, and wouldn’t eat. Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 24 May 2025 The downsides are that DEET smells awful, is oily, and can damage anything with plastic in it, like synthetic clothing and camping gear. Kristin Canning, Wired News, 21 May 2025 Certain fatty, cold-water fish produce an oily substance in their tissues. Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 19 May 2025 Not to mention, those with oily skin, or easily-irritated complexions may just find their solution in this multi-tasking skincare ingredient. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for oily

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oily was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

oily

adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
a
: covered or soaked with oil
b
: high in oils that are naturally produced
oily skin
oiliness noun

Medical Definition

oily

adjective
oilier; oiliest
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of oil
2
: excessively high in naturally secreted oils
oily hair
oily skin

More from Merriam-Webster on oily

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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