# soapstone

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsoʊpˌstoʊn/ · frequency rank #64,720

## Definitions
1. A soft rock, rich in talc, also containing serpentine and either magnetite, dolomite or calcite.
2. Synonym of saponite.

## Etymology
From soap + stone; so called because the archetypal varieties of the stone resemble soap in multiple ways: their feel, appearance, and carvability. First use appears c. 1681, in the writings of Nehemiah Grew.

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