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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

oil spills

plural

Etymology

Origin of oil spill

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

oil spill

The vessels were carrying oil and liquefied natural gas, raising the risk of an explosion, a collision or an oil spill.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

BBC Verify has also analysed satellite imagery suggesting the oil spill originated from an attack on a vessel in Omani waters on 3 August.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

If successful, such systems could transform emergency oil spill response by converting ordinary fires into highly efficient cleanup tools.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026

A pipeline rupture in East Los Angeles early Friday morning resulted in a crude oil spill, according to officials.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

A giant oil spill off Santa Barbara blackened California’s coastline.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

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