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

---

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

---

ointment Idioms  

1. see fly in the ointment.

---

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 rare items, which have been loaned by the Royal Navy Museum, include a bowl and dinner plate, a boot and belt buckle and an ointment pot.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Some families are also rejecting the eye ointment.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

The only fly in the ointment might be what executives say about the rest of this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 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

Silently she drew the box of ointment from her bosom and gave it to him.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Related Words

• balm
• lotion
• salve