Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

gypsum

American  
[jip-suhm] / ˈdʒɪp səm /

noun

  1. a very common mineral, hydrated calcium sulfate, CaSO 4 ⋅2H 2 O, occurring in crystals and in masses, soft enough to be scratched by the fingernail: used to make plaster of Paris, as an ornamental material, as a fertilizer, etc.

gypsum British  
/ ˈdʒɪpsəm, dʒɪpˈsɪfərəs, ˈdʒɪpsɪəs /

noun

  1. a colourless or white mineral sometimes tinted by impurities, found in beds as an evaporite. It is used in the manufacture of plaster of Paris, cement, paint, school chalk, glass, and fertilizer. Composition: hydrated calcium sulphate. Formula: CaSO 4 .2H 2 O. Crystal structure: monoclinic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
gypsum Scientific  
/ jĭp′səm /

  1. A colorless, white, or pinkish mineral. Gypsum occurs as individual blade-shaped crystals or as massive beds in sedimentary rocks, especially those formed through the evaporation of saline-rich water. It is used in manufacturing plasterboard, cement, and fertilizers. Chemical formula: CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of gypsum

1640–50; < Latin: chalk < Greek gýpsos chalk, gypsum

Explanation

Gypsum is a mineral — specifically, hydrated calcium sulfate — used in making many types of cement and plaster, especially plaster of Paris. It’s also in cement, tofu, and beer. Yum? Gypsum is everywhere! If you're studying chemistry or just want to build something, you may encounter gypsum, which is a white, chalky (or sometimes colorless) mineral used to make plaster of Paris and other building materials such as cement. Plaster of Paris is named from the massive gypsum deposits of Montmartre in Paris. But you won’t just find gypsum in art class. Besides its use in building materials, gypsum is used in making fertilizer and tofu.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing gypsum

Rocks and Minerals - Middle School and High School

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Merci Suárez Can’t Dance

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Vocabulary from Readings 2, Unit 4

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Conveyor belts then take thousands of tons of material a day to a factory in Kirkby Thore, operated by British Gypsum.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2025

Gypsum and carbonate strontium isotope ratio measurements were used to determine sources of water that carried the sediments to the salt flats.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

Gypsum, a byproduct of coal-burning, is to be sold to cement factories.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2023

Gypsum — calcium sulfate — is an amendment that improves clay soils.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2022

Gypsum crystallizes with two molecules of water, equal to about 21% by 769 weight, and consequently has the formula CaSO4�2H2O.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.