Meaning & use

ointment

noun·Everyday

A smooth, greasy substance rubbed on the skin for healing or soothing purposes.

See it in a sentence

The doctor prescribed an ointment to soothe the itchy rash on his arm.

She applied ointment to the small burn on her finger before bandaging it.

A note on using this word

Ointment is thicker and greasier than a cream or lotion, and is typically used for medicinal purposes.

Words with a similar meaning

salvebalm

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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