regolith

noun

reg·​o·​lith ˈre-gə-ˌlith How to pronounce regolith (audio)
: unconsolidated residual or transported material that overlies the solid rock on the earth, moon, or a planet

Examples of regolith in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The moon has no atmosphere capable of supporting weather or snowfall and its surface is covered in regolith — fine jagged sharp rock material, far from optimal skiing conditions. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026 There’s regolith and a couple of Chinese landers—Chang’e 4 in January 2019 and Chang’e 6 in June 2024—and not much else. Harry Goldstein, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Feb. 2026 Elements from our planet’s atmosphere have made their way into moon dust, also called regolith, on a pathway created by the Earth’s magnetic field. Devika Rao, TheWeek, 27 Jan. 2026 The research sheds new light on a puzzle that has endured for over half a century since the Apollo missions brought back lunar samples with traces of substances such as water, carbon dioxide, helium and nitrogen embedded in the regolith — the moon’s dusty surface layer. Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for regolith

Word History

Etymology

Greek rhēgos blanket + English -lith; akin to Greek rhezein to dye — more at raga

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of regolith was in 1897

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Regolith.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regolith. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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