greasy

adjective

ˈgrē-sē  -zē 

greasier; greasiest

1

a

: smeared or soiled with grease

greasy clothes

b

: oily in appearance, texture, or manner

… his greasy smile …

—Jack London

c

: slippery

2

: containing an unusual amount of grease

greasy food

greasily

ˈgrē-sə-lē 

-zə-

adverb

greasiness

ˈgrē-sē-nəs 

-zē-

noun

Synonyms of greasy

• slicked
• slippery
• slick
• greased

Examples of greasy in a Sentence

My doctor told me to avoid greasy food.

that wet tarmac road is greasy enough to send the car into a skid

Recent Examples on the Web

Not heavy like a foundation, nor greasy and thick like many mineral sunscreens, the formula leaves behind a naturally luminous your-skin-but-better finish. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 30 July 2026

This version delivers creamy eggplant—not greasy slices—thanks to a simple wet brine before breading, while a crisp panko coating provides texture beneath the sauce and cheese. — Rachel Dolfi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2026

For years, many sunscreens left behind a noticeable white cast, looked ashy on deeper complexions, or felt heavy and greasy on the skin. — Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

This should include scraping (not rinsing) large chunks of food off the dishes to avoid clogging the dishwasher’s filters, and pre-treating any heavily greasy or grimy dishes. — The Spruce, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing greasy

• greasy spoon

Rhymes for greasy

• creasy
• fleecy

Kids Definition

greasy

adjective

ˈgrē-sē  -zē 

greasier; greasiest

1

: smeared with grease

2

: containing grease

greasy food

3

: resembling grease or oil : smooth, slippery

greasily

-sə-lē 

-zə-

adverb

greasiness

-sē-nəs 

-zē-

noun