alabaster

American  

[al-uh-bas-ter, -bah-ster] / ˈæl əˌbæs tər, -ˌbɑ stər /

noun

1. a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.

2. Also called Oriental alabaster.  a variety of calcite, often banded, used or sold as alabaster.

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adjective

1. made of alabaster.

   an alabaster column.

2. resembling alabaster; smooth and white.

   her alabaster throat.

alabaster British  

/ -ˌbæstə, ˈæləˌbɑːstə /

noun

1. a fine-grained usually white, opaque, or translucent variety of gypsum used for statues, vases, etc

2. a variety of hard semitranslucent calcite, often banded like marble

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adjective

1. of or resembling alabaster

Other Word Forms

• alabastrine adjective

Etymology

Origin of alabaster

1350–1400; < Latin < Greek alábastros; replacing Middle English alabastre < Middle French < Latin

Explanation

Alabaster is a pale mineral that's soft enough for carving. In museums, you're likely to see statues and vases carved from alabaster. The root of alabaster is a Greek word meaning "perfume vase," alabastros. You'll also find ancient tomb carvings, windows in medieval cathedrals, and Egyptian sarcophagi made of alabaster. Alabaster is usually white, and because it is translucent, seems lit from within. For this reason, it often describes a pale complexion that seems to glow from the inside.

Example Sentences

Her prom dreams inch closer as her lies begin to mount and her new alabaster skin starts peeling off at extremely inopportune moments.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

The researchers noted that intact inscribed ancient Egyptian alabaster vessels are extremely rare, likely fewer than 10 in museum collections worldwide.

From Science Daily • Dec. 18, 2025

Among the nearly 100 works on view are sculptures in iron, wood, alabaster and clay as well as drawings, collages and experimental works using paper.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 13, 2025

The exterior is covered in hieroglyphs and translucent alabaster cut into triangles with a pyramid shaped entrance.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025

She reads a couple of very vivid paragraphs about the “whiter-than-white, nearly alabaster, snowy, bleached Alps” in Switzerland, where her family went on vacation.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• porcelain