Oxides　hold　great　promise　as　new　and　improved　materials　for　thermal-barrier　coating　applications.　The　rich　variety　of　structures　and　compositions　of　the　materials　in　this　class,　and　the　ease　with　which　they　can　be　doped,　allow　the　exploration　of　various　mechanisms　for　lowering　thermal　conductivity.　In　this　article,　we　review　recent　progress　in　identifying　specific　oxides　with　low　thermal　conductivity　from　both　theoretical　and　experimental　perspectives.　We　explore　the　mechanisms　of　lowering　thermal　conductivity,　such　as　introducing　structural/chemical　disorder,　increasing　material　density,　increasing　the　number　of　atoms　in　the　primitive　cell,　and　exploiting　the　structural　anisotropy.　We　conclude　that　further　systematic　exploration　of　oxide　crystal　structures　and　chemistries　are　likely　to　result　in　even　further　improved　thermal-barrier　coatings.