wild oat

noun

Definition of wild oat

1 : any of several Old World wild grasses (genus Avena); especially : a Eurasian annual weed (A. fatua) common in meadows and pastures

2 wild oats plural : offenses and indiscretions ascribed to youthful exuberance —usually used in the phrase sow one's wild oats

Recent Examples of wild oat from the Web

And for a modern update on the classic oatmeal bath remedy, Pai Instant Calm Redness Serum delivers sea aster and wild oat in a lotion gel to strengthen blood vessels and minimize flushing — no matter the forecast.

— kari molvar, New York Times, "How to Protect Your Skin Against Winter Dryness," 2 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wild oat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.