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

Volkswagen was previously found guilty in the emissions cheating scandal, Pfizer over its promotion of the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra and Exxon for the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

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

According to Curtis, the discovery coincides with 30 years since the Sea Empress oil spill, highlighting how "treacherous" Pembrokeshire waters can be.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 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

Cockroaches poured from under the door, spreading over the floor like an oil spill.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda