Word of the day

unctuous

adjective

Unctuous is a word that’s undergone change in recent years. It now often describes food that is fatty and oily, especially in a pleasing way. Formerly it was more typically applied as a formal adjective describing someone who is figuratively oily—that is, overly or insincerely flattering. Both uses can be found today.

Example

Braising chicken thighs with their skins on creates a rich, unctuous sauce that can be spooned back over the finished dish.