oasis

noun

oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs 

plural oases ō-ˈā-ˌsēz 

1

: a fertile or green area in an arid region (such as a desert)

The caravan stopped to rest at an oasis.

2

: something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast

The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories.

Examples of oasis in a Sentence

The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories.

Our brief trip to the beach was a much-needed oasis in a summer of hard work.

Recent Examples on the Web

Running along Israel’s central mountain ridge, the route begins in Beersheba, the southern desert city where Abraham is said to have established an oasis and taught travelers about belief in one God. —Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026

This remarkable region is a veritable oasis left untouched when glaciers flattened much of the area about 12,000 years ago. —Kelsey Yandura, Midwest Living, 17 June 2026

The lagoon, which wanders almost the entire length of the garden, adds a swath of blue to this oasis of green. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 June 2026

Popular beaches include Hidden Beach (a secluded oasis), Veteran’s Beach (great for boaters), and Crescent Beach (a gem with a quaint grassy area). —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin Oasis, referring to the Great Oasis of Kharge in the Libyan Desert of Egypt, borrowed from Greek Óasis (Herodotus), borrowed from Egyptian wḥꜢ.t "fertile area in the desert"

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oasis

• basis
• glacis
• mesas
• stasis
• anabasis
• cholestasis
• haemostasis
• hemostasis
• hypostasis
• periphrasis
• atelectasis
• bronchiectasis

Kids Definition

oasis

noun

oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs 

plural oases -ˈā-ˌsēz 

1

: a fertile or green spot in a desert

2

: something or some place that provides refreshing relief