talc

noun

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
talcose adjective

Examples of talc in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many talc claimants oppose allowing a trustee to set awards and want to take their cases to court. Jef Feeley, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2023 Five months later, J&J is scheduled to face a case grouping claims by six former talc users in the same courthouse. Jef Feeley, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2023 The company said about 60,000 talc claimants had signed off on the proposal. Harold Maass, The Week, 5 Apr. 2023 The company is fighting back and a New Jersey state appeals court recently overturned a $223 million jury verdict blaming talc for cancer. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2023 Moline never concluded that using J&J's talc led to cancer prior to the J&J trial, while Longo did not precisely determine how many times the plaintiffs had used the powder, J&J attorneys argued. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 4 Oct. 2023 Johnson & Johnson separated its liabilities stemming from talc, a baby powder ingredient alleged to have caused cancer, into a new subsidiary that twice filed for bankruptcy. Alexander Gladstone and Akiko Matsuda, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2023 While the talc is harmless, the resin/pitch and paint can be toxic to certain animals, like hogs. Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 24 May 2023 In addition to being vegan, cruelty-free and free of gluten, mineral oil, talc, parabens, sulfates and phthalates, this sunscreen also features a peachy-pink hue which helps neutralize zinc oxide’s natural bluish-white color. Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'talc.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of talc was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near talc

Cite this Entry

“Talc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talc. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

talc

noun
: 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
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on talc

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