dirty
DUR-tee
Dirty (adj) means Unclean or covered in dirt, grime, or other unpleasant matter. Example: “His boots were dirty after the hike through the mud.”
adj
1
Unclean or covered in dirt, grime, or other unpleasant matter.
"His boots were dirty after the hike through the mud."
"Wash your hands, they look dirty."
"The windows were so dirty that hardly any light came through."
2
Morally unclean, obscene, or indecent, especially in a sexual sense.
"He told a dirty joke that made everyone groan."
"The film was banned for its dirty content."
"The comedian's dirty humour made the older guests blush and look away."
3
Corrupt, dishonest, or breaking accepted rules.
"The senator was accused of taking dirty money from lobbyists."
"It was a dirty trick to steal the client at the last minute."
"The inspector was caught running a dirty scheme to cheat honest customers."
verb
1
To make something dirty, or to stain someone's reputation.
"The scandal dirtied his name for years."
"Don't dirty the carpet with those shoes."
"Children love to dirty their clothes while playing in the garden."
How to use dirty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPhysically unclean, or (figuratively) morally wrong, obscene, or corrupt.
Common mistake
In slang, "dirty" can also just mean impressive or intense (e.g. "that dunk was dirty"), which has nothing to do with cleanliness.
Common pairings
dirty hands
dirty money
dirty trick
dirty joke
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Word forms
- Plural
- dirties
- Third person singular
- dirties
- Past tense
- dirtied
- Comparative
- dirtier, more dirty
- Superlative
- dirtiest, most dirty
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His boots were _____ after the hike through the mud.
Etymology
From Middle English dirti, an alteration of dritti, built from dirt plus the adjective ending -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
clean
make clean
Related words
Rhymes for dirty
See all rhymes for dirty →Frequently asked questions
What does “dirty” mean?
The word “dirty” means unclean or covered in dirt, grime, or other unpleasant matter. In plain terms, physically unclean, or (figuratively) morally wrong, obscene, or corrupt.
How do you pronounce “dirty”?
“Dirty” is pronounced DUR-tee (/ˈdɝti/ in IPA).
How do you use “dirty” in a sentence?
Here is “dirty” used in a sentence: “His boots were dirty after the hike through the mud.”
What is another word for “dirty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dirty” include assoil, beclart, bedaub, bedirty, imbrue (especially with blood) and bedizen.
What is the opposite of “dirty”?
The opposite of “dirty” — its antonyms — are clean and make clean.
What part of speech is “dirty”?
Depending on how it is used, “dirty” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “dirty” come from?
The word “dirty” comes from Middle English. From Middle English dirti, an alteration of dritti, built from dirt plus the adjective ending -y.
Is “dirty” a common word?
“Dirty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between dirty and filthy?
Both mean unclean, but filthy is far stronger. Dirty covers anything not clean, from lightly dusty to muddy. Filthy suggests extreme, disgusting dirt — thick grime or squalor. A pair of shoes can be dirty after a walk; they are filthy only when caked in mud. Filthy is dirty taken to an extreme.
What is the opposite of dirty?
The opposite of dirty is clean — free from dirt, grime, and marks. Related antonyms include spotless, pristine, and immaculate, which describe something not just clean but perfectly so. Where dirty means covered in unpleasant matter, clean means that matter has been removed and the surface is fresh.
Does dirty have meanings beyond being unclean?
Yes. Besides physical dirt, dirty can mean unfair or dishonest, as in a dirty trick or dirty tactics. It can describe rude or offensive language, and in sport a 'dirty' player breaks the rules. The common thread is something tainted or improper, whether a surface, a deed, or a reputation.
What is an example of dirty?
Muddy boots after a hike, greasy hands after fixing a car, a grimy window, or dishes left unwashed in the sink are all dirty. Anything marked, stained, or coated in grime, dust, or mess fits. Children playing outside usually come home dirty — covered in the day's dirt and grass stains.
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