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oil spill

American

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of oil spill

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Earlier strikes in the past two weeks at the Tuapse refinery caused a big oil spill in the sea and residents reported "black" rain falling on the city and leaving an oily residue everywhere.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Imagine a swarm of robots rushing to complete an urgent job, such as cleaning up an oil spill or assembling complex machinery.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

Shipping was at a near-standstill in Belgium's port of Antwerp on Friday following an overnight oil spill, Europe's second-biggest port said as it raced to contain the risks of pollution and economic damage.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Trying to juice a rival’s bad news for buzz isn’t advisable if it’s something as serious as an oil spill or a plane crash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

A giant oil spill off Santa Barbara blackened California’s coastline.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023