rotten
ROTN
Rotten (adj) means Decayed and spoiled, especially of food. Example: “The fridge smelled of rotten eggs.”
adj
1
Decayed and spoiled, especially of food.
"The fridge smelled of rotten eggs."
"Half the fruit in the bowl had gone rotten."
"Throw away those rotten apples before they spoil the rest of the box."
2
Morally bad, cruel, or dishonest.
"That was a rotten thing to say to her."
"It was a rotten trick to steal his sister's savings."
"The rotten landlord lied about the damage to keep the deposit."
3
Very unpleasant or of poor quality (informal).
"We had rotten luck with the weather all week."
"I had a rotten cold and stayed in bed all weekend."
"What a rotten day, with the train cancelled and rain all morning!"
How to use rotten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDecayed, or (informally) morally bad or just plain unpleasant.
Common pairings
rotten luck
rotten to the core
rotten smell
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like rotten.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- rottener, more rotten
- Superlative
- rottenest, most rotten
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The fridge smelled of _____ eggs.
Etymology
From Old Norse rotinn, "decayed," related to Old English rotian — the same root behind the verb "rot."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rotten
See all rhymes for rotten →Frequently asked questions
What does “rotten” mean?
The word “rotten” means decayed and spoiled, especially of food. In plain terms, decayed, or (informally) morally bad or just plain unpleasant.
How do you pronounce “rotten”?
“Rotten” is pronounced ROTN (/ˈɹɑtn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “rotten” in a sentence?
Here is “rotten” used in a sentence: “The fridge smelled of rotten eggs.”
What is another word for “rotten”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rotten” include bad, gone bad, gone off, maggoted and spoiled.
What is the opposite of “rotten”?
The opposite of “rotten” — its antonyms — are edible, fresh and unspoiled.
What part of speech is “rotten”?
“Rotten” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rotten” come from?
The word “rotten” comes from Old English. From Old Norse rotinn, "decayed," related to Old English rotian — the same root behind the verb "rot.".
Is “rotten” a common word?
“Rotten” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between rotten and spoiled food?
Rotten food is decayed and spoiled through decomposition, usually showing visible signs like mold, discoloration, or a foul smell. Spoiled is a broader term that can also cover food that has simply gone stale or lost freshness without full decay, so all rotten food is spoiled, but not all spoiled food is rotten.
Is calling someone rotten an insult?
Yes, describing a person as rotten means they are morally bad, cruel, or dishonest, so it functions as a strong criticism of their character. It is informal and typically used in casual speech rather than formal writing.
When is rotten used informally instead of literally?
In informal speech, rotten is often used to describe something very unpleasant or of poor quality, as in a rotten day or rotten luck, without any connection to actual decay. This figurative use is common in everyday conversation across English-speaking countries.
