ointment

American  

[oint-muhnt] / ˈɔɪnt mənt /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a soft, unctuous preparation, often medicated, for application to the skin; unguent.

   Synonyms:

   nard, balm, salve

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ointment British  

/ ˈɔɪntmənt /

noun

1. a fatty or oily medicated formulation applied to the skin to heal or protect

2. a similar substance used as a cosmetic

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ointment Idioms  

1. see fly in the ointment.

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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; see unguent

Explanation

Ointment is an oily kind of cream that you use to soothe or heal your skin. You might want to apply a bit of ointment to that festering flesh wound on your forehead. Just saying. Ointment is viscous — in other words, it's somewhere between a solid and a liquid, with a slippery, oily texture. Some medications come in ointment form, while other ointments might be lip balm, a moisturizer for dry skin, or even a cosmetic. The Old French oignement came from the Latin unguentum, from the stem unguere, "to anoint or salve."

Example Sentences

The vitamin K shot is one of the three main interventions, along with the hepatitis B vaccine and an antibiotic ointment in the eyes, that newborns typically receive before leaving the hospital.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

The human-headed fly in the ointment is the island itself, which is a supernatural smorgasbord, mostly quiet but waking up just in time to meet the visitors.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

But dimly visible on the left, an ointment jar and a small mirror, emblems of her previous life of luxury and sin, appear to have been discarded, signaling her entry into a new, virtuous existence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

This finding indicates that direct contact with the ointment, rather than conjunctival exposure alone, is the primary cause of swelling.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

We all look monstrous—the ointment seems to be causing some of the scabs to peel—but I'm glad for the medicine.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• balm
• lotion
• salve