talc

noun

ˈtalk 

1

: a very soft mineral that is a basic silicate of magnesium, has a soapy feel, and is used especially in making talcum powder

2

: talcum powder

talcose

ˈtal-ˌkōs 

adjective

Examples of talc in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In an email requesting comment, an FDA communications advisor said the agency couldn’t comment on when a new rule would be released and directed consumers to a webpage about talc for information. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025

Krupa Koestline, founder and chief cosmetic chemist of KKT Labs, explains that while most brands already conduct asbestos screening in talc products through third-party labs, the quality of testing can vary widely. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2025

In response to the concern these examples caused, numerous companies have reformulated their products to remove talc. —Marci Robin, Allure, 4 Dec. 2025

The rule was mandated under the 2022 Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, requiring the FDA to implement methods of detecting and identifying the harmful carcinogenic chemical in talc-containing cosmetics. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French talk, from Medieval Latin talc, talcum, from Arabic ṭalq

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

talc

noun

ˈtalk 

: a very soft mineral that consists of a silicate of magnesium, has a soapy feel, and is used especially in making talcum powder

Medical Definition

talc

noun

ˈtalk 

: a very soft mineral Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ that is a basic silicate of magnesium, has a soapy feel, and is used especially in making talcum powder