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fuel oil
noun
: an oil that is used for fuel and that usually has a higher flash point than kerosene
Examples of fuel oil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Halsey was taking fuel oil and gasoline from Texas to New York when it was struck by a torpedo fired from a Nazi U-boat on May 6, 1942, according to Fishing Status.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 13 May 2024
The heavy fuel oil used by many ships is another problem: A passenger on a seven-day Antarctic cruise produces as much CO2 as the average European in an entire year.
—The Week Staff, theweek, 15 Jan. 2024
Consider the period between 1994 and 2002, when the two countries complied with the Agreed Framework (a deal in which Pyongyang froze its nuclear activities at its main Yongbyon site in exchange for heavy fuel oil and civilian nuclear reactors) and engaged in peace and missile talks.
—Frank Aum, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2022
The fuel regulation sought to reduce the upper limit on the sulfur content of ships’ fuel oil from 3.5% to 0.5%.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fuel oil
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fuel oil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1893, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fuel oil
Cite this Entry
“Fuel oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fuel%20oil. Accessed 5 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
fuel oil
noun
: an oil that is used for fuel and that usually ignites at a higher temperature than kerosene
More from Merriam-Webster on fuel oil
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fuel oil
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