oil slick

noun

: a film of oil floating on water

Examples of oil slick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Satellite imagery taken on August 10 appeared to show large oil slicks off the southern coast of the nearby Hengam Island. — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

The images, the last of which was on Friday, show an oil sheen covering about 20 square kilometers (8 square miles) and dark spots of crude oil slicks on the shores of Dhofar’s Qibliyah Island, part of the Hallaniyat Islands. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026

The Giants encountered one oil slick after another in a 16-2 loss to the Brewers at American Family Field. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 2 June 2026

Another driver nearly lost control of their vehicle when the vehicle hit the oil slick, the driver told the CHP in an emergency call. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oil slick

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• picnic
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick

Kids Definition

oil slick

noun

: a film of oil floating on water