regolith

noun

reg·​o·​lith ˈre-gə-ˌlith 

: unconsolidated residual or transported material that overlies the solid rock on the earth, moon, or a planet

Examples of regolith in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Orbital imagery has shown that unlike its heavily cratered sibling moon, Phobos, which means fear in ancient Greek, Deimos is much smoother — and covered in a perplexing layer of dust and rubble called regolith. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Darker smears around the crater’s rim contain surface rocks and lunar dust called regolith previously altered by solar winds, micrometeorites, and cosmic radiation over an extended period of time. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026

An impact therefore hurls high-speed ejecta (fine regolith and rock fragments) across vast distances at bullet-like speeds. — Leonard David, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Team members then used the rounded barrel structures on Bruno to scoop the crushed rock known as regolith, and continue working through the run. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek rhēgos blanket + English -lith; akin to Greek rhezein to dye — more at raga

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above