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

There's lots of elegant stonework throughout, contemporary abstract oil paintings on canvases by the island’s resident artist in bright, poppy Pacific tones. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

Nearby hangs Rockwell’s famous 1964 oil painting showing marshals escorting 6-year-old Ruby Bridges to an integrated school. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

And on Saturday, Auburn’s defensive stop an inch short of the goal line to beat Baylor 17-16 was the stuff of oil paintings. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Johnson’s Child and Lamb (1875), an oil painting of a similar size and subject as Mary and Her Lamb, sold at Bonham’s in 2024 for $108,000. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 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