petroleum jelly

noun

: a neutral unctuous odorless tasteless substance obtained from petroleum and used especially in ointments and dressings

Examples of petroleum jelly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pack a tube of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in your first aid kit instead of antibiotic ointment and remember to flush all scrapes and cuts with copious amounts of clean water before covering them with the jelly. — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Some suggest coating the string or pole with petroleum jelly, but please don’t do that. — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

Just don’t forget a healthy layer of petroleum jelly underneath to ensure damage-free removal. — Alyssa Sparacino, Glamour, 29 May 2026

Also referred to as petroleum jelly, which is the primary ingredient of Vaseline, it was invented during the 1800s as a cure-all balm and has become a household staple since. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for petroleum jelly

• varicocele
• allele
• appellee
• ocelli
• belly
• deli
• kellie
• melly
• nellie
• nelly
• shelly
• skelly

Kids Definition

petroleum jelly

noun

: a tasteless, odorless, and oily or greasy substance from petroleum that is used especially in ointments and dressings

Medical Definition

petroleum jelly

noun

: petrolatum sense a