fish oil

noun

|Updated on: 28 Jul 2018

Definition of fish oil

: a fatty oil from the bodies of various fishes (such as menhaden or sardines) that contains large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids and is used as a dietary supplement and in making various products (such as cosmetics and paints)

Recent Examples of fish oil from the Web

There’s a reason fish oil capsules and other omega-3 supplements are so popular.

— markham heid, Time, "Are Omega-3s Good for Your Brain?," 20 June 2018
Early fish oil studies strongly suggested a cardiac benefit of supplements.

— david becker, Philly.com, "Why this cardiologist is no longer recommending fish oil supplements," 1 May 2018
What’s not clear today is whether swallowing a fish oil pill or some other type of omega-3 supplement can improve cognitive function or safeguard brain health.

— markham heid, Time, "Are Omega-3s Good for Your Brain?," 20 June 2018
But both of these studies involved the benefits of seafood rather than fish oil itself.

— susan scutti, CNN, "Health effects of fish oil: Where do we stand?," 1 Mar. 2018
Consider adding fish oil or other fatty acids to his daily regimen.

— dr. patty khuly, miamiherald, "Shedding is a normal for dogs; most times no need to be concerned," 8 June 2018
Many other readers also believe fish oil helps their dry eyes.

— joe graedon, m.s., and teresa graedon, Houston Chronicle, "Will zinc help hirsutism in women?," 13 May 2018
So how did so many cardiologists and patients fall for fish oil supplements?

— david becker, Philly.com, "Why this cardiologist is no longer recommending fish oil supplements," 1 May 2018
Rigorous studies have failed to show that fish oil supplements prevent heart attacks.

— liz szabo, CNN, "Enthusiasm over vitamins often outpaces evidence, experts say," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fish oil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of fish oil

1785

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

fish oil

noun

medical Definition of fish oil

: a fatty oil that is obtained from oily fish (such as herring or menhaden), contains large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, and is used as a dietary supplement and in making various products (such as protective coatings, cosmetics, and animal feed)

Scientists learned some time ago that there are significant health benefits from consuming omega-3 fatty acids, which are found mostly in fish oils, algal oils, and linseed oil.
—Felicia M. Willis, Today's Chemist at Work, October 2004