adj

earthy

UR-thee

Earthy (adj) means resembling soil in smell, taste, or appearance. Example: “The wine had an earthy, mushroomy flavor.”

adj

Resembling soil in smell, taste, or appearance.

"The wine had an earthy, mushroomy flavor."

"Beetroot has a distinctly earthy taste."

Down-to-earth, plain-spoken, or unpolished, sometimes crude.

"His earthy sense of humor didn't suit the formal dinner."

How to use earthy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither literally like soil (smell, taste, color) or figuratively blunt and unrefined.

Common pairings

earthy flavor earthy humor earthy tones

Word forms

earthier comparative, earthiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “earthy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The wine had an _____, mushroomy flavor.

Etymology

From earth plus -y.

Rhymes for earthy

swarthy McCarthy

See all rhymes for earthy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “earthy” mean?

The word “earthy” means resembling soil in smell, taste, or appearance. In plain terms, either literally like soil (smell, taste, color) or figuratively blunt and unrefined.

How do you pronounce “earthy”?

“Earthy” is pronounced UR-thee (/ˈɝθi/ in IPA).

How do you use “earthy” in a sentence?

Here is “earthy” used in a sentence: “The wine had an earthy, mushroomy flavor.”

What part of speech is “earthy”?

“Earthy” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “earthy” have?

“Earthy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: resembling soil in smell, taste, or appearance.