oil spill

American  

noun

oil spills plural

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• oil spills
  plural

Etymology

Origin of oil spill

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Ibadan-trained talent has also been known to spill over into the country's raucous, fast-paced film industry, known as Nollywood, which is said to produce around 200 films per month.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

Plus, the destruction of the environment causes viruses to spill over from animal hosts into us.

From Salon • May 11, 2026

No particular couch sticks in my memory, so perhaps these were neutral couches awaiting my emotions to spill out over them.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Some analysts say there is at least some potential for trouble in the software sector to spill into other areas of the loan market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

The boat’s draw was greater than I would wish, and with but three of us, the water lapped high on the gunwales, threatening to spill over.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson