vegetable oil

American  

noun

1. any of a large group of oils that are esters of fatty acids and glycerol, obtained from the leaves, fruit, or seeds of plants.

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vegetable oil British  

noun

1. any of a group of oils that are esters of fatty acids and glycerol and are obtained from plants

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Etymology

Origin of vegetable oil

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Taylor says the buns are handmade in a bakery that handles nuts, the oil the kitchen uses is soya bean vegetable oil and sesame seeds on the buns "cover the entire kitchen".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Global food prices broke a five-month downward trend as rising wheat, vegetable oil and meat levels outweighed declines in cheese and sugar prices, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Imports from Malaysia amounted to $12.54 billion, mainly minerals, vegetable oil and electrical machinery and equipment.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

The bird was brought to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach on July 23, where staff used vegetable oil and solvents to gradually and gently remove the remaining glue.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2025

I checked to make sure we had everything—the vegetable oil, the brown sugar.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• lard
• lubricant
• oil