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

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

From Salon • May 11, 2026

The International Court of Justice in The Hague is holding a week of hearings between the two countries over the row that has at times threatened to spill over into military action.

From Barron's • May 6, 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

Asked about the possibility of special guests on Sunday night, he refused to spill any secrets.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Below her, pretties were starting to spill out of Garbo Mansion onto the lawn and down the hill.

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld