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 Suitable for normal, dry, combination, and oily skin, it can be applied with a powder brush for a natural look or with a damp sponge to achieve a more full-coverage finish. Clare Holden, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 Eating healthy, oily fish, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, is encouraged, while eggs, dairy and poultry are eaten in much smaller portions than in the traditional Western diet. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024 However, oily and acne-prone skin can also benefit from regular hydration. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 18 Jan. 2024 Great for combination and oily skin, SkinMedica’s SPF 35 is oil-free, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic, and fragrance- and paraben-free. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2024 Just like a thief that leaves behind an oily fingerprint at a crime scene, age leaves its own telltale mark. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Each product was sampled by one of our editors with combination or oily skin. Alena Hall, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2024 Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Skin Acne is often linked to oily skin, but people with dry skin can still get breakouts, too. Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 The tests involve swabbing the armpits and the groin, which are oily parts of skin that the fungus likes to colonize. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oily.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near oily

Cite this Entry

“Oily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oily. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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