-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
tar sand
noun
: a natural impregnation of sand or sandstone with petroleum from which the lighter portions have escaped
Examples of tar sand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
American companies that work there—in the Canadian tar sands or in the North Sea’s oil fields, for example—will still have to make these disclosures.
—
Matt Mossman, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2017
Vaillant weaves together the story of the tar sands industry, the impacts of climate change and the white-knuckle evacuation of the town into a frightening wake-up call of our new reality concerning wildfires.
—
Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2023
Fort McMurray is in the middle of Alberta’s tar sands, or bituminous sands.
—
Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2023
The growth in fossil-fuel financing among Canadian institutions may be explained by recent demand from the tar sand industry, Maaike Beenes, the campaign lead at BankTrack, told S&P Global.
—
Michelle Cheng, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for tar sand ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2025-01-31--15-58-40-flw9nf/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
First Known Use
1899, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tar sand
Cite this Entry
“Tar sand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tar%20sand. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
tar sand
noun
: sand or sandstone that is naturally soaked with heavy sticky portions of petroleum
More from Merriam-Webster on tar sand
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tar sand
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share