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.

---

vegetable oil British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of vegetable oil

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Higher crude oil prices amid concerns about renewed U.S. military actions against Iran and a prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz likely limited the losses of the vegetable oil.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

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

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

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

But the final law was amended to remove reference to the substance, solely banning brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye No. 3.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2025

I read the sides of vegetable oil cans.

From "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" by John Bul Dau

Related Words

• lard
• lubricant
• oil