fuel oil

noun

: an oil that is used for fuel and that usually has a higher flash point than kerosene

Examples of fuel oil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here, around 50% of homes rely on fuel oil as their main heat source, more than any other state. — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

This means that the ship can use fuel oil and still meet the emission limits. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Spiking fuel oil costs have become a major issue in the Senate race in Maine, where half the homes are warmed with heating oil. — Sasha Von Oldershausen Sasha Von Oldershausen Sasha Von Oldershausen Kevin Williams Kevin Williams Shane Goldmacher and Pati Mazzei, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, latest market figures indicate heavy fuel oil commonly used by these carriers has reached 686 dollars per metric ton, up 67% from the same period last year. — CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fuel oil

• airfoil
• benzoyl
• despoil
• embroil
• etoile
• gargoyle
• recoil
• subsoil
• tinfoil
• topsoil
• trefoil
• turmoil

Kids Definition

fuel oil

noun

: an oil that is used for fuel and that usually ignites at a higher temperature than kerosene