soil

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈsȯi(-ə)l 

soiled; soiling; soils

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to become soiled or dirty

soil

2 of 2

verb (2)

soiled; soiling; soils

transitive verb

: 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 of soil

Verb (1)

• stain
• dirty
• muck
• blacken

Examples of soil in a Sentence

Verb (1)

oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This ensures good seed to soil contact. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 June 2026

Pods are convenient and mess-free, but cost more and lack flexibility for delicate or heavily soiled loads. —Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026

Volcanic vineyard soils on display at Omina Romana. —Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Iron in lateritic ore gives soil a reddish-brown color. —NPR, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French soiller, suiller, from Old French soil wallow of a wild boar, abyss, from Latin solium chair, bathtub; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1605, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soil

• desert soil
• fertile soil
• free-soil
• native soil
• night soil
• potting soil
• prairie soil
• red soil
• soil one's hands
• soil pipe
• soil science
• soil series
• the soil

Rhymes for soil

• boil
• broil
• coil
• foil
• oil
• roil
• spoil
• toil
• voile
• aerofoil
• cinquefoil
• hydrofoil

Kids Definition

soil

1 of 3 verb

ˈsȯi(ə)l 

: to make or become dirty

soil

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: soilage, stain

b

: moral soilage : corruption

2

: something that soils or pollutes

soil

3 of 3 noun

1

: firm land : earth

2

: the loose surface material of the earth in which plants grow

3

: country entry 1 sense 2b, land

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"