Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ointment

/ˈɔɪn(t)m(ə)nt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.98 in modern English

Syllables
oint-ment
IPA
/ˈɔɪn(t)m(ə)nt/
10
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A viscous preparation of oils and/or fats, usually containing medication, used as a treatment or as an emollient.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A substance used to anoint, as in religious rituals.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

A later form (as if oint + -ment) of Middle English oinement, borrowed from Old French oignement (“an anointing”), from oigner, oindre, ongier (“to anoint”), from Latin ung(u)ō (“I anoint”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷ- (“to smear, anoint”). Partly displaced native Old English sealf, whence modern salve.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈɔɪn(t)m(ə)nt/
  • British English: /ˈɔɪntm(ə)nt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

ointments (plural) oyntment (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

ointmentlike

Phrases

blue ointment citrine ointment flying ointment fly in the ointment saracenic ointment Whitfield's ointment

Frequently Paired Words

cream inunction liniment unction unctuous unguent

Synonyms

salve unguent pomatum pomade pomate cream emollient unction balm

Rhymes With

appointment disappointment reappointment

Questions

How do you pronounce ointment?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɔɪn(t)m(ə)nt/.
What does ointment mean?
A viscous preparation of oils and/or fats, usually containing medication, used as a treatment or as an emollient.
Where does ointment come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ointment

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ointment”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɔɪn(t)m(ə)nt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ointment”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “ointment” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.