dirty
/ˈdɜː.ti/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Covered with dust, mud, stains, or other unwanted substances. It is not clean.
- My shoes are dirty after the rain.
- Please wash your dirty hands.
- The table looks dirty already.
- 2.
Morally bad, dishonest, or offensive. People use it about actions, talk, or behavior.
- That was a dirty trick.
- He made a dirty joke.
- The deal felt dirty to her.
verb
To make something dirty or less clean.
- Don't dirty the floor.
- The wind dirtied the windows.
- She dirtied her dress on the wall.
Adinary Nuance
Dirty is stronger and more direct than unclean or unwashed. It usually describes something visibly not clean, or behavior that feels dishonest or unpleasant. In careful writing, unclean can sound more formal, while filthy is stronger than dirty.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bẩn
- Spanish
- sucio
- Chinese
- 脏的
- Japanese
- 汚い
- Korean
- 더러운
Etymology
Dirty comes from Old English dierte, meaning “soiled” or “foul.” It has been used in English for many centuries, first for physical dirt and later for bad or unfair behavior.
Common phrases
dirty handsdirty clothesdirty tricksdirty work
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is dirty always about physical dirt?
- No. It can also describe dishonest, unfair, or offensive behavior.
- What is the difference between dirty and filthy?
- Dirty is common and general. Filthy is stronger and suggests a very high level of dirt.
- Can I use dirty in business writing?
- Yes, but usually only for negative actions like a dirty deal or dirty politics.
- Is dirty formal or informal?
- It is common in everyday English. It can also appear in serious writing when the meaning is negative.