olive oil

noun

: a pale yellow to yellowish-green nondrying oil that is obtained from olives, is high in monounsaturated fat, and is used chiefly as a salad oil and in cooking

Examples of olive oil in a Sentence

a teaspoon of olive oil
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Add the cauliflower, broccoli, and sweet potato to the prepared sheet pan, drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle with the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, a pinch of salt, and a couple cracks of black pepper. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 Beginning in 1989, oil and acrylic paints gave way to olive oil, henna, tea, spices, and coffee, while animal glue, mud, and leather also shaped the group’s posters, paintings, and mixed-media assemblages. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 All the police will find is a crowd sitting in silent vigil and a bottle of olive oil for anointing the ill. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 They’re marinated in a blend of lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and jalapeños that result in a tender and slightly spicy steak after at least two hours of marinating. — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for olive oil

Word History

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of olive oil was in 1566

Rhymes for olive oil

See All Rhymes for olive oil

Browse Nearby Words

olivenite
olive oil
olive-oil castile soap
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Olive oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olive%20oil. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

olive oil

noun
: a pale yellow to yellowish green oil obtained from the pulp of olives and used especially as a salad oil, in cooking, and in soaps

Medical Definition

olive oil

noun
: a pale yellow to yellowish green edible oil obtained from the pulp of olives that is high in monounsaturated fatty acids and is used chiefly as a salad oil and in cooking, in toilet soaps, and as an emollient

More from Merriam-Webster on olive oil

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about olive oil

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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