noun
pigsty
PIHG-steye
Pigsty (noun) means a pen where pigs are kept. Example: “The pigsty needed cleaning out after the rain.”
noun
1
A pen where pigs are kept.
"The lower pasture also contains a pigsty."
"The pigsty needed cleaning out after the rain."
2
A very dirty or messy place (informal).
"This room is a pigsty. When are you going to clean it?"
"Tidy your room — it looks like a pigsty in here."
""It's only youse crowd wot comes makin' a pigsty of the place," said Melons conclusively."
— Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia (1913)
How to use pigsty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pig enclosure, or informally any filthy, messy place.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
looks like a pigsty
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Word forms
- Plural
- pigsties
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ needed cleaning out after the rain.
Etymology
From "pig" plus "sty", an old word for a pen or enclosure.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “pigsty” mean?
The word “pigsty” means a pen where pigs are kept. In plain terms, a pig enclosure, or informally any filthy, messy place.
How do you pronounce “pigsty”?
“Pigsty” is pronounced PIHG-steye (/ˈpɪɡˌstaɪ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “pigsty” in a sentence?
Here is “pigsty” used in a sentence: “The pigsty needed cleaning out after the rain.”
What part of speech is “pigsty”?
“Pigsty” is a noun.
How many meanings does “pigsty” have?
“Pigsty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pen where pigs are kept.
