soiled; soiling; soils
1
: to stain or defile morally : corrupt
2
: to make unclean especially superficially : dirty
3
: to blacken or taint (something, such as a person's reputation) by word or deed
: to become soiled or dirty
1
: firm land : earth
2
a
: the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow
b
: the superficial unconsolidated and usually weathered part of the mantle of a planet and especially of the earth
4
: the agricultural life or calling
5
: a medium in which something takes hold and develops
soiled; soiling; soils
: to feed (livestock) in the barn or an enclosure with fresh grass or green food
also
: to purge (livestock) by feeding on green food
Synonyms
Examples of soil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to the cutting boards, the deli slicer was soiled.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
There was also soiled equipment sitting by the dishwashing area.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
The myriad corruption investigations around the Tokyo Olympics are the latest to soil recent Games.
—Yuri Kageyama and Stephen Wade, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
California also has begun the mandatory recycling of waste, such as kitchen scraps, coffee grounds and soiled paper by including it with the door-to-door collection of yard waste.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
The violations included dry ingredients and bulk candy being stored in unlabeled containers and ceiling fan grates located in the main meat prep room being soiled with dust build-up.
—Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2024
The carpets were horribly stained, the walls soiled with sickly black mold.
—Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
Everything from banana peels and used coffee grounds to yard waste and soiled paper products like pizza boxes counts as organic waste.
—Amy Taxin, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2024
Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2024
Soil has a finite capacity; global soils cannot perpetually soak up carbon.
—Jessica Rawnsley, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024
The staff is also working with companies like Scraps, which collects its compost for soil, and The Happy Beetle to get rid of hard-to-recycle items, including styrofoam and old silverware.
—Lily O'Neill, The Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Ukraine would renounce any intention to join military alliances or allow foreign military bases or troops on its soil.
—Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
No surprise that once a handful of rich corporations bought the majority of food brands across the United States and became powerful monopolies, the picture changed for American soils.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
Iran has launched a direct attack from Iranian soil towards the state of Israel.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 14 Apr. 2024
Wa State controls nearly as much soil as the Netherlands.
—Patrick Winn, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2024
Compost is a soil amendment, not a soil replacement, so plants should not be grown in compost alone.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
But Take Note The skirt isn’t waterproof, so if your baby moves around a lot through the night, there’s still a chance of soiling the sides of the mattress.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to the cutting boards, the deli slicer was soiled.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
There was also soiled equipment sitting by the dishwashing area.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
The myriad corruption investigations around the Tokyo Olympics are the latest to soil recent Games.
—Yuri Kageyama and Stephen Wade, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
California also has begun the mandatory recycling of waste, such as kitchen scraps, coffee grounds and soiled paper by including it with the door-to-door collection of yard waste.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
The violations included dry ingredients and bulk candy being stored in unlabeled containers and ceiling fan grates located in the main meat prep room being soiled with dust build-up.
—Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2024
The carpets were horribly stained, the walls soiled with sickly black mold.
—Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
Everything from banana peels and used coffee grounds to yard waste and soiled paper products like pizza boxes counts as organic waste.
—Amy Taxin, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2024
Noun
Monitor the plant for the first month or two, testing for dry soil between waterings to establish a watering schedule.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2024
Soil has a finite capacity; global soils cannot perpetually soak up carbon.
—Jessica Rawnsley, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024
The staff is also working with companies like Scraps, which collects its compost for soil, and The Happy Beetle to get rid of hard-to-recycle items, including styrofoam and old silverware.
—Lily O'Neill, The Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Ukraine would renounce any intention to join military alliances or allow foreign military bases or troops on its soil.
—Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
No surprise that once a handful of rich corporations bought the majority of food brands across the United States and became powerful monopolies, the picture changed for American soils.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024
Iran has launched a direct attack from Iranian soil towards the state of Israel.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 14 Apr. 2024
Wa State controls nearly as much soil as the Netherlands.
—Patrick Winn, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2024
Compost is a soil amendment, not a soil replacement, so plants should not be grown in compost alone.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soil. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
soil
1 of 3 verb
: to make or become dirty
soil
2 of 3 noun1
b
: moral soilage : corruption
2
: something that soils or pollutes
soil
3 of 3 noun1
: firm land : earth
2
: the loose surface material of the earth in which plants grow
4
: an environment in which something may take root and grow
slums are fertile soil for crime
Etymology
Verb
Middle English soilen "to corrupt, make dirty," from early French soiller "to wallow," from soil "pigsty"
Noun
Middle English soil "earth," from early French soil (same meaning), derived from Latin solea "sole, sandal, foundation timber"
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