oil painting

noun

1

a

: the act or art of painting in oil colors

b

: a picture painted in oils

2

: painting that uses pigments originally ground in oil

Synonyms of oil painting

• painting
• canvas

Examples of oil painting in a Sentence

He studied oil painting in college.

A large oil painting hangs above the mantel.

Recent Examples on the Web

This includes Vera Edwards, who has crafted 44 exquisite oil paintings for the rooms, and discovered that her great-grandmother’s mosaic had been on the original walls in the 1960s. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

According to Shadwick, Sanborn also gave some of these early oil paintings new, misleading titles, and assumed Hopper had conceived of the compositions himself, inspired by his surroundings in Nyack. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Canaletto, a prominent member of the Venetian school, is best known for his breathtaking oil paintings of Venice and London. — News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026

The interiors manage to ooze heritage without needing oil paintings of hounds or floral pelmets. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for oil painting

• acquainting
• repainting
• fainting
• tainting

Kids Definition

oil painting

noun

: a painting done with oil paints