# basalt

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbæs.ɒlt/ · frequency rank #28,125

## Definitions
1. A hard mafic igneous rock of varied mineral content; volcanic in origin, which makes up much of the Earth's oceanic crust.
2. A type of unglazed pottery.

## Etymology
From Late Latin basaltes, a misspelling of Latin basanites, from Ancient Greek βασανίτης (basanítēs), from βάσανος (básanos, “touchstone”), from Egyptian bḫn (“a hard stone”), b-x:n-O39

## Easily confused with
- **bast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/basalt-vs-bast)
- **basil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/basalt-vs-basil)
- **Basel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/basalt-vs-basel)
- **basket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/basalt-vs-basket)
- **basset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/basalt-vs-basset)
- **Baal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baal-vs-basalt)
- **basal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/basal-vs-basalt)
- **banal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banal-vs-basalt)

## Common misspellings (9)
`absalt`, `baaslt`, `basallt`, `basaltt`, `basatl`, `baslat`, `bassalt`, `bbasalt`, `bsaalt`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/basalt