palm oil

American  

noun

• palm oils
  plural

1. a yellow butterlike oil derived from the fruit of the oil palm and used as an edible fat and for making soap, candles, etc.

2. oil obtained from various species of palm.

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palm oil British  

noun

1. a yellow butter-like oil obtained from the fruit of the oil palm, used as an edible fat and in soap

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• palm oils
  plural

Etymology

Origin of palm oil

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

palm oil

Coal exports will likely stay weak, while palm oil could benefit from higher domestic biodiesel demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Late last month, an Indonesia-based wildlife foundation shared footage showing an orangutan writhing on the ground on a palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan, one of Indonesia's hardest-hit provinces.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Stronger energy prices could support biodiesel demand, while Indonesia’s proposed B60 biodiesal mandate in 2027 may absorb more palm oil and tighten exports, she reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

In a recent incident, a herd of 20 elephants stomped into palm oil smallholdings and three villages, terrifying residents.

From Barron's

Kainene dipped a finger in palm oil and brought it to her mouth.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie