1
: a person who oils something
2
: a receptacle or device for applying oil
3
4
: an auxiliary naval vessel used for refueling at sea
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Prior to Tuesday, the yard had built, started or won contracts to build eight Lewis-class oilers.
—
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2023
But guys especially need to show their complexions some extra TLC because male skin tends to be thicker, oiler, and have more prominent pores than female skin.
—Garrett Munce, townandcountrymag.com, 5 May 2023
The modern Navy’s Henry J. Kaiser class fleet oilers, by contrast, are 50 percent bigger, displace twice as much fully loaded, but have a crew of just 89.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023
People with oiler or acne-prone skin should look for toners with BHA (beta hydroxy acids) or salicylic acids to help exfoliate their skin and unclog pores.
—Dhara Patel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2023
Harrison was a railroading innovator with only a high school education, hired as a car oiler in a Memphis yard in 1963.
—Dan Schwartz, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2023
The models on sale all feature button start, a knob to loosen or tighten the chain, and an automatic chain oiler to keep it well-lubricated and spinning smoothly.
—Brandon Russell, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2023
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro will also be in San Diego this weekend to help launch the Navy replenishment oiler Harvey Milk at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard and give a speech at the San Diego Military Advisory Council breakfast at Naval Base Point Loma Monday.
—Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2021
Sailors and marine oilers: 37.6 deaths per 100,000 workers, ranked 116th for its nonfatal injury rate in 2019, the latest year for which data was available.
—Jayme Fraser, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2023
See More
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2023
But guys especially need to show their complexions some extra TLC because male skin tends to be thicker, oiler, and have more prominent pores than female skin.
—Garrett Munce, townandcountrymag.com, 5 May 2023
The modern Navy’s Henry J. Kaiser class fleet oilers, by contrast, are 50 percent bigger, displace twice as much fully loaded, but have a crew of just 89.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 27 Feb. 2023
People with oiler or acne-prone skin should look for toners with BHA (beta hydroxy acids) or salicylic acids to help exfoliate their skin and unclog pores.
—Dhara Patel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2023
Harrison was a railroading innovator with only a high school education, hired as a car oiler in a Memphis yard in 1963.
—Dan Schwartz, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2023
The models on sale all feature button start, a knob to loosen or tighten the chain, and an automatic chain oiler to keep it well-lubricated and spinning smoothly.
—Brandon Russell, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2023
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro will also be in San Diego this weekend to help launch the Navy replenishment oiler Harvey Milk at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard and give a speech at the San Diego Military Advisory Council breakfast at Naval Base Point Loma Monday.
—Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2021
Sailors and marine oilers: 37.6 deaths per 100,000 workers, ranked 116th for its nonfatal injury rate in 2019, the latest year for which data was available.
—Jayme Fraser, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oiler.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near oiler
Cite this Entry
“Oiler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oiler. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.
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Kids Definition
oiler
noun
oil·er
ˈȯi-lər 
1
: a person (as a worker) who oils something
2
: a device for applying oil
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