Word
oily
US/ˈɔɪɫi/
UK/ˈɔɪli/
Definitions
01covered in or containing oil
B1 · Intermediate
adj. covered with oil or containing a lot of oil.
adj. covered with, consisting of, or containing oil; often used to describe food, skin, or mechanical parts.
“The mechanic wiped his oily hands on a rag after fixing the engine.”
“The chef warned that the fried eggplant would become excessively oily if the temperature of the oil dropped too low during cooking.”
Antonyms
02insincere behavior
C1 · Advanced Informal
adj. too polite or friendly in a way that you do not trust.
adj. excessively smooth, polite, or flattering in a way that suggests insincerity or a hidden motive.
“I didn't trust the salesman because of his oily smile and fake compliments.”
“The politician's oily manner during the interview failed to convince the public that he was being entirely transparent about the budget cuts.”
Synonyms
03resembling oil
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. looking or feeling like oil.
adj. having the appearance, consistency, or slippery quality of oil.
“The water had an oily shine on the surface after the boat passed.”
“The liquid had a thick, oily texture that made it difficult to wash off the laboratory equipment.”
04waterproof clothing
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Informal · British English · Dialect
n. waterproof clothes worn by sailors or people working in the rain.
n. waterproof garments, typically made of oilskin or similar treated fabric.
“The crew put on their oilies before heading out into the storm.”
“Before the race began, the sailors checked their oilies for any leaks that might compromise their comfort during the overnight leg.”
Usage
Almost always used in the plural form 'oilies'.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English oylei, equivalent to oil + -y. Compare German ölig (“oily”), Swedish oljig (“oily”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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