oily

adjective

ˈȯi-lē 

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

disapproving

a

: excessively smooth or suave in manner

b

: characterized by excessive smoothness or suaveness

"My dear friend," said the Chief Scribe in an oily voice …

—Lloyd Alexander

oilily

ˈȯi-lə-lē 

adverb

oiliness

ˈȯi-lē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of oily

• soapy
• sickening
• oleaginous
• unctuous
• gushy
• hagiographic
• abundant

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

Those and other lessons are built into the screenplay with a lot of humor, teaching kids to respect and understand nature, get involved in the community and protect the vulnerable, even if that means an oily politician. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Mar. 2026

Thanks to its skin-friendly ingredients, the cream is suitable for all skin types, including those with dry, oily, acne-prone, combination, and sensitive skin, so everyone can reap its benefits. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026

The fragrance-free product works best on oily or combination skin. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026

Damage-resistant hair that is oily and straight can be washed every day. —ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oily

• coyly
• doily

Kids Definition

oily

adjective

ˈȯi-lē 

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

ˈȯi-lē 

oilier; oiliest

1

: of, relating to, or consisting of oil

2

: excessively high in naturally secreted oils

oily hair

oily skin