oil spill

American  

noun

1. an accidental release of oil into a body of water, as from a tanker, offshore drilling rig, or underwater pipeline, often presenting a hazard to marine life and the environment.

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Etymology

Origin of oil spill

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Imagine a swarm of robots rushing to complete an urgent job, such as cleaning up an oil spill or assembling complex machinery.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Shipping was at a near-standstill in Belgium's port of Antwerp on Friday following an overnight oil spill, Europe's second-biggest port said as it raced to contain the risks of pollution and economic damage.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

When gunky black waves began crashing onto the shores of Huntington Beach after last month’s oil spill, Bill Kasper felt as blue as the next surfer.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

Before that, he was based in the Journal’s Houston bureau, where he reported on the oil-and-gas industry in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and amid the shale-drilling boom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Her voice held steady, but her hands did not, and the O of Olinski was the rough shape of an oil spill.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg