Dirty

/ˈdɜːrti/

Meaning & Definition

noun
The dirty state or quality; filth.
He did not want to live in the dirty of the city.
verb
To make dirty; to soil.
The children dirtied their clothes while playing in the mud.
adjective
Not clean; covered or marked with an unclean substance.
His hands were dirty after working on the car.
Soiled or stained.
The dirty dishes piled up in the sink.
Unpleasant or offensive, especially in a moral or ethical sense; indecent.
The film was criticized for its dirty jokes.
In a state of moral corruption or disrepute.
The politician had a dirty reputation due to several scandals.

Etymology

Middle English: from Old Norse 'drit.'

Common Phrases and Expressions

dirty laundry:
Unpleasant personal matters, often referring to scandals.
dirty work:
Unpleasant or dishonest work that others do not want to do.
dirty mind:
A person who thinks or talks about sexual matters in an inappropriate way.
dirty hands:
To engage in unethical or immoral actions to achieve a goal.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Dirty cash
Money acquired through illegal activities.
Dirty dog
A person who is deceitful or treacherous.
Dirty look
A facial expression that shows disapproval or annoyance.
Dirty dancing
A provocative form of dancing that involves close physical contact.