topsoil

noun

top·​soil ˈtäp-ˌsȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce topsoil (audio)
Synonyms of topsoilnext
: surface soil usually including the organic layer in which plants have most of their roots and which the farmer turns over in plowing

Examples of topsoil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, large areas of farmland were treated similarly, and contaminated topsoil was removed and stored in temporary as well as long-term facilities. Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 Use The Right Potting Medium Fill containers with a high-quality potting mix rather than gardening soil or topsoil, which can contain weeds, fungi, and harmful insects. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026 Even the coarsest topsoil, something that would be magical in a vegetable garden, is way to fine-grained to adequately drain if used in a container. Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Apr. 2026 To reduce farmers’ demand on fertilizer, one of the best options may be regenerative farming, said Hansel, whose company sells a product, Bio 800+, which helps build up the microbiome of topsoil. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for topsoil

Word History

First Known Use

1733, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of topsoil was in 1733

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Cite this Entry

“Topsoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topsoil. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

topsoil

noun
top·​soil -ˌsȯil How to pronounce topsoil (audio)
: surface soil usually including the rich upper layer in which plants have most of their roots and which the farmer turns over in plowing

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