oleaginous

American  

[oh-lee-aj-uh-nuhs] / ˌoʊ liˈædʒ ə nəs /

adjective

1. having the nature or qualities of oil.

2. containing oil.

3. producing oil.

4. unctuous; fawning; smarmy.

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oleaginous British  

/ ˌəʊlɪˈædʒɪnəs /

adjective

1. resembling or having the properties of oil

2. containing or producing oil

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Other Word Forms

• oleaginousness noun

Etymology

Origin of oleaginous

First recorded in 1425–50; Middle English oliaginose, (from Middle French oléagineux), from Latin oleāgineus, oleāginius, oleāginus “pertaining to an olive tree,” derivative of olea “olive, olive tree” ( olive )

Example Sentences

Ragoravich is predictably oleaginous, a man with a file cabinet full of hidden agendas, but he is charmingly persuasive, and the money has already been wired into Maggie’s account.

From Los Angeles Times

Already masterwork in balancing gentility with explosive rage, the actor blends the spark of a political mover with the oleaginous menace of a mob boss.

From Salon

But the most villainous entity they encounter is a duplicitous schemer played with oleaginous insincerity by Hugh Grant.

From Seattle Times

It's easy for this approach to look rather oleaginous.

From Salon

Last night he suggested in his usual oleaginous way that mean people on Twitter are worse than a dictator who poisons and imprisons his political adversaries.

From Salon