potash

American  

[pot-ash] / ˈpɒtˌæʃ /

noun

1. potassium carbonate, especially the crude impure form obtained from wood ashes.

2. potassium hydroxide.

3. the oxide of potassium, K 2 O.

4. potassium, as carbonate of potash.

---

potash British  

/ ˈpɒtˌæʃ /

noun

1. another name for potassium carbonate, esp the form obtained by leaching wood ash

2. another name for potassium hydroxide

3. potassium chemically combined in certain compounds

   chloride of potash

---

potash Scientific  

/ pŏt′ăsh′ /

1. Any of several chemical compounds that contain potassium, especially potassium carbonate (K ₂ CO ₃), which is a strongly alkaline material obtained from wood ashes and used in fertilizers.

---

Etymology

Origin of potash

1615–25; back formation from plural pot-ashes, translation of early Dutch potasschen. See pot ¹, ash ¹

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

potash

The proposal targets a market currently dominated by Canada, the world’s largest producer of potash, a vital fertilizer component and an essential plant nutrient with no substitute in global food production.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

The country is also a major source of important commodities including potash - a product in fertiliser for which Canada is the world's top supplier.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

A previously announced $2.3 billion write-down of a potash project in Canada weighed on its bottom line.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

In the U.S., prices for potash fertilizer were largely unaffected by the conflict.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Once, when her grandfather stepped out, Olanna had chewed the piece of chalk too and still remembered the dulling potash taste.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• manure

---