mineral spirits

noun

plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a petroleum distillate that is used especially as a paint or varnish thinner

Examples of mineral spirits in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Wipe it down: To create a clean, dust-free surface, wipe the piece all over with a tack rag dampened with mineral spirits. Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 If your table is waxed, remove the wax first with mineral spirits and rub on new wax after using the ring remover. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023 Use mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean your tools after the job. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 21 July 2023 First, denatured alcohol and odorless mineral spirits are different things. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for mineral spirits 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mineral spirits.' 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

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mineral spirits was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near mineral spirits

Cite this Entry

“Mineral spirits.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mineral%20spirits. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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