topsoil

noun

top·​soil ˈtäp-ˌsȯi(-ə)l 

: 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

Lundberg’s grandfather came to California in 1937, leaving behind the Midwest where the rain had quit for years and the plowed topsoil had blown away. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Topdressing materials can be topsoil, composted organic matter, or sand. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Fill ruts, depressions, and holes with topsoil and either turf or plants. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026

If your lawn grass was already quite thin, topdressing with a thin layer of quality topsoil is recommended. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1733, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for topsoil

• airfoil
• benzoyl
• despoil
• embroil
• etoile
• gargoyle
• recoil
• subsoil
• tinfoil
• trefoil
• turmoil
• aerofoil

Kids Definition

topsoil

noun

top·​soil -ˌsȯil 

: surface soil usually including the rich upper layer in which plants have most of their roots and which the farmer turns over in plowing