fish oil

noun

: a fatty oil from the bodies of various fishes (such as menhaden or sardines) that contains large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids and is used as a dietary supplement and in making various products (such as cosmetics and paints)

Examples of fish oil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Omega-3 fatty acids can be similarly tricky to get from food, as they’re primarily found in oily fish (like salmon and mackerel) and in smaller amounts in things like walnuts and flaxseeds—so you might be tempted to pop a fish oil capsule. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 Apr. 2025

Take nutritional supplements: Speak to your healthcare provider about supplements that contain essential fatty acids, like fish oil, which might help decrease dry eye symptoms. —Sarah Bence, Health, 23 Mar. 2025

Omega-3 supplements may include fish oil from shellfish, which is a common allergen. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025

Made from the tissue of oily fish (like the ones above), fish oil is just a straight, potent stuff filled with a mix of fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fish oil

• airfoil
• benzoyl
• despoil
• embroil
• etoile
• gargoyle
• recoil
• subsoil
• tinfoil
• topsoil
• trefoil
• turmoil

Medical Definition

fish oil

noun

: a fatty oil that is obtained from oily fish (such as herring or menhaden), contains large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, and is used as a dietary supplement and in making various products (such as protective coatings, cosmetics, and animal feed)

Scientists learned some time ago that there are significant health benefits from consuming omega-3 fatty acids, which are found mostly in fish oils, algal oils, and linseed oil.

—Felicia M. Willis, Today's Chemist at Work