petrolatum

noun

pet·​ro·​la·​tum ˌpe-trə-ˈlā-təm  -ˈlä- 

: petroleum jelly

Examples of petrolatum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s where thick ointments like petrolatum jelly (the main ingredient in Vaseline) and shea butter come into play. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Dec. 2024

And occlusives are ingredients that prevent your skin’s moisture loss and support the skin barrier, and those include waxes, petrolatum, and oils. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2024

Key Ingredients: Squalane, petrolatum, aloe Best For: Dry skin, sensitive skin Size: 1.7 oz. —Emily Orofino, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024

Some worth looking for are petrolatum, lanolin, shea butter, jojoba oil, and almond oil. —Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

petrol(eum) + Latin -ātum -ate entry 1

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

petrolatum

noun

pet·​ro·​la·​tum ˌpe-trə-ˈlāt-əm  -ˈlät- 

: a neutral unctuous substance that is practically odorless and tasteless and is insoluble in water, that is obtained from petroleum and differs chemically from paraffin wax in containing unsaturated hydrocarbons or naphthenes as well as alkanes, and that is produced in several forms: as

a

: a yellowish to light amber semisolid mass used chiefly as a base for ointments and cosmetics, as a protective dressing, and in lubricating greases

called also petroleum jelly, yellow petrolatum

b

: a white or faintly yellowish mass obtained by decolorizing yellow petrolatum and used similarly to it

called also petroleum jelly, white petrolatum, white petroleum jelly