rusty
RUHS-tee
Rusty (adj) means Covered in rust or corroded. Example: “The rusty gate creaked loudly whenever anyone opened it.”
adj
1
Covered in rust or corroded.
"The rusty gate creaked loudly whenever anyone opened it."
"Leave the bike outside all winter and the chain will turn rusty."
"He pulled a rusty nail out of the old fence post."
2
Out of practice; having lost some skill through lack of use.
"His guitar skills were rusty after years without playing."
"I'm a bit rusty at public speaking — it's been a while."
"My French is rusty, so please speak slowly."
3
A reddish-brown color, like rust.
"The fox had a rusty coat that blended with the autumn leaves."
"The cliffs glowed a rusty orange in the evening sun."
"She dyed the scarf a warm, rusty red."
How to use rusty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCorroded with rust, or — much more commonly in everyday speech — out of practice at something.
Memory tip
The "out of practice" sense is extremely common in casual speech: "my Spanish is rusty" just means you used to be good at it but haven't used it in a while.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a bit rusty
rusty skills
rusty hinge
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like rusty.
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
- rustier, more rusty
- Superlative
- rustiest, most rusty
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ gate creaked loudly whenever anyone opened it.
Etymology
From Old English rustig, "rusty," built from rust plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rusty
See all rhymes for rusty →Frequently asked questions
What does “rusty” mean?
The word “rusty” means covered in rust or corroded. In plain terms, corroded with rust, or — much more commonly in everyday speech — out of practice at something.
How do you pronounce “rusty”?
“Rusty” is pronounced RUHS-tee (/ˈɹʌsti/ in IPA).
How do you use “rusty” in a sentence?
Here is “rusty” used in a sentence: “The rusty gate creaked loudly whenever anyone opened it.”
What part of speech is “rusty”?
“Rusty” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rusty” come from?
The word “rusty” comes from Old English. From Old English rustig, "rusty," built from rust plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.
Is “rusty” a common word?
“Rusty” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “rusty” have?
“Rusty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in rust or corroded.
What is the difference between rusty and corroded?
Rusty specifically describes the reddish-brown oxidation that forms on iron or steel exposed to moisture, while corroded is a broader term covering any kind of chemical deterioration of a metal surface, not just rust. All rusty metal is corroded, but not all corrosion is rust.
What does it mean to say your skills are 'rusty'?
Saying a skill is rusty, as in 'my French is rusty,' means you have lost some proficiency through lack of practice, even though the underlying ability hasn't disappeared entirely. This figurative sense compares a skill left unused to metal left untreated and gradually corroding.
Is 'rusty' used to describe a color?
Yes, rusty can describe a reddish-brown color similar to rust, such as 'rusty orange' or 'rusty red,' independent of whether actual corrosion is involved. This color sense is distinct from the meanings related to corroded metal or lost skill.
