What does vaseline mean?
Vaseline is a clear, semisolid petroleum-based ointment commonly used to protect and soothe dry or irritated skin. It forms a protective coating that reduces moisture loss and can also prevent friction or minor irritation. The substance is useful as a lubricant, a barrier against cold or wet conditions, and a general treatment for chapped skin. Its name was originally created as a trademark for a purified form of petroleum jelly, but it became so widely adopted in ordinary speech that “vaseline” now often means the product type itself. Capitalization therefore depends on context: the capital form usually identifies the branded product, while the lowercase form is normal for the generic substance. Although petroleum jelly itself is older and more technical, “vaseline” remains the most familiar term in everyday English and in descriptions of household and personal-care products.
A clear, semisolid petroleum-based ointment used to soothe and protect skin or to lubricate surfaces.
"He applied petroleum jelly to the dry patches on his hands."
Originally a trademark; capitalization generally distinguishes the branded product from generic petroleum jelly.
To apply vaseline or petroleum jelly to something.
"She vaselined the wooden surface before using it as a cake mold."
This use is chiefly informal and is much less common than the noun.
Rare; vaseline is normally treated as a mass noun and is not pluralized.
"The shelf held two separate containers of vaseline."
The trademarked product name became so widely used that “vaseline” came to stand for petroleum jelly as a whole category of products.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vaseline come from?
“Vaseline” was coined as a proprietary name by American chemist Robert Chesebrough for a purified petroleum-jelly product introduced in the 1870s. Unlike a name transparently derived from ordinary English roots, it was created specifically as a commercial trademark. Through widespread use, it was subsequently adopted as a generic term for petroleum jelly, and the lowercase spelling became standard in generic references.
Related word forms
How vaseline is actually used
The word is neutral and familiar in everyday English. It is capitalized when referring specifically to the branded product, but lowercase “vaseline” is common when referring to petroleum jelly generically.
Easily confused with vaseline
Vaseline is a semisolid skin protectant or lubricant, whereas gasoline is a volatile, flammable liquid fuel.