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oil spill

American

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of oil spill

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

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

Trying to juice a rival’s bad news for buzz isn’t advisable if it’s something as serious as an oil spill or a plane crash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

An oil company has been forced to pay £6.1m to put right ecological damage caused by an oil spill.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

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

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023