lubricant
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of lubricant
1815–25; < Latin lūbricant- (stem of lūbricāns ), present participle of lūbricāre to make slippery. See lubric, -ant
Explanation
Lubricant is an oily or greasy substance that makes machine parts move more easily. If your door squeaks loudly every time you open it, you may want to use some lubricant on its rusty hinges. When metal surfaces are in contact with each other, especially when they're rough or rusty, there's friction. In order for a machine with moving parts to work quickly and efficiently, it's important to reduce that friction, which is where lubricant comes in. These are usually made mostly of oil, though often they're thicker than a liquid, and they enable two surfaces to slide smoothly against each other, whether that's a key in a lock or engine parts in a car.
Vocabulary lists containing lubricant
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.
See Examples For:
Shohei Ohtani had lubricant injected into his left knee, and the Dodgers two-way star is expected to start Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
Petroleum is an essential element in modern industry, whether used as a fuel, a lubricant or an ingredient in plastics and chemicals.
From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026
The carry trade was the lubricant keeping global asset prices inflated.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 23, 2025
A spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change Canada told the Globe and Mail that the substance was not a petroleum hydrocarbon, petroleum lubricant, biofuel or biodiesel.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2024
There are humans who hunt and slaughter whales and market the products for lipstick or industrial lubricant.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Many links in the global industrial-supply chain are already being tested — such as lubricants, as well as sulfuric acid, helium and aluminum — because of the disruptions in the Persian Gulf, Lynch said.
From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026
Researchers believe the source is connected to lubricants such as engine oil.
From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026
Moreover, a wide array of indexes moved higher on the month, including truck transportation of freight, fuels and lubricants retailing, health, beauty, optical goods and legal services.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
Karex relies on materials derived from oil, including ammonia - which is used to preserve latex - and silicone-based lubricants.
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026
The horse was dead, set to be rendered, to have its atoms turned into pet food and stuff like shampoos, lubricants on condoms, rubber tires, and explosives.
From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
