adjective

dirty

Covered with unwanted material, or morally offensive or dishonest.

His shoes are dirty after a walk through the mud.

Etymology

Old Norse drit named excrement, and dirt broadened to unwanted or unclean matter. Dirty describes its presence, then extends physical uncleanness to dishonesty or moral offensiveness.

More examples

  • Please put your dirty dishes in the sink.
  • The company uses dirty tricks to avoid paying its workers.
  • She refuses to laugh at his dirty jokes.

Forms

dirty · dirtier · dirtiest

dirt noun — Unwanted material that makes something unclean.

Similar words

filthy
Stronger than dirty, suggesting extreme uncleanliness or offensiveness.
obscene
Specifically describes sexually offensive language, images, or behavior.
dishonest
Focuses on deception rather than physical uncleanliness or obscenity.