ointment
Americannoun
noun
-
a fatty or oily medicated formulation applied to the skin to heal or protect
-
a similar substance used as a cosmetic
Etymology
Origin of ointment
1250–1300; obsolete oint (aphetic variant of anoint ) + -ment; replacing Middle English oignement < Old French < Vulgar Latin *unguimentum for Latin unguentum; unguent
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In another three cases, the MicroShunt remained covered by the conjunctiva and no ointment was used.
From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026
There are two potential flies in the ointment.
From Barron's • Jan. 10, 2026
Among the Pfizer drugs to be sold at reduced prices are Eucrisa, an eczema ointment, Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, and the migraine treatment Zavzpret, according to a White House fact sheet.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025
Metanium nappy rash ointment is the only product to have relieved his symptoms, his mother Hilary Rabbett said, but it was discontinued last year over supply issues.
From BBC • Jan. 22, 2025
He’s got a cut on his back left leg, and he demands that I put ointment and a Band-Aid on it when we get home.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
