shale oil

American  

noun

1. petroleum distilled from oil shale.

---

shale oil British  

noun

1. an oil distilled from shales and used as fuel

---

Etymology

Origin of shale oil

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shale oil

Until 2020, big economic shocks tended to push inflation lower: China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, the U.S. mortgage crisis, the euro crisis, the shale oil revolution, the initial wave of Covid-19.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

Harold Hamm, the founder and chairman of the fracking and shale oil company Continental Resources, whom Trump effusively praised during the session, demurred when Trump asked him if Continental would plunge into the Venezuela market.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2026

Production at the Vaca Muerta shale oil field, which is roughly the size of Belgium, climbed 15% over the past year, with 90% still untapped.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2025

Oilfield service companies that cater to U.S. shale oil and gas producers are turning sour on fourth quarter demand, with clients keeping a tight grip on their wallets after largely exhausting their 2023 budgets.

From Reuters ● Nov. 11, 2023

Estonia has a   large, relatively modern port and produces more than half of its own energy   needs at highly polluting shale oil power plants.

From The 1993 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency