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
Examples of oiler in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In June, Hegseth also ordered the renaming of an oiler ship named after gay rights activist and Navy veteran Harvey Milk.
—
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
From left, the United States destroyer USS Mahan, the Norwegian replenishment oiler HNoMS Maud, the United States destroyer USS Bainbridge and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl transit the North Cape fjord in the Barents...
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Last September, that became crystal clear when the USNS Big Horn, a key oiler, ran aground and partially flooded off the coast of Oman.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The document reportedly showed that the service planned to strip the oiler USNS Harvey Milk of its moniker.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oiler
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Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
From left, the United States destroyer USS Mahan, the Norwegian replenishment oiler HNoMS Maud, the United States destroyer USS Bainbridge and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl transit the North Cape fjord in the Barents...
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Last September, that became crystal clear when the USNS Big Horn, a key oiler, ran aground and partially flooded off the coast of Oman.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
The document reportedly showed that the service planned to strip the oiler USNS Harvey Milk of its moniker.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oiler
Cite this Entry
“Oiler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oiler. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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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