# saponification

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of the acid.
2. The reaction of a metallic alkali (base) with a fat or oil to form soap.

## Etymology
From French saponification, from saponifier (“saponify”).

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