Definition and pronunciation
dirty /ˈdɜːrti/ — adjective, verb, noun.
- Adjective: unclean, soiled, impure, or offensive. In slang, it can also mean obscene or sexually explicit.
- Verb: to make something dirty (“He dirtied his shoes”).
- Noun (rare): dirtiness or offensive material.
Easy explanation
Dirty usually means not clean (like dirty clothes). But it can also mean inappropriate, rude, or sexual in a vulgar way (like a dirty joke).
Grammatical formation
- Adjective: dirty, dirtier, dirtiest.
- Verb: dirty, dirties, dirtied, dirtying.
- Noun: dirtiness.
- Opposite adjective: clean.
Meanings and nuances
- Physical uncleanliness — covered with soil, stains, or pollution (“dirty hands”).
- Immorality or dishonesty — corrupt or unfair (“dirty politics”).
- Obscenity/sexual connotation — vulgar or explicit (“dirty joke,” “dirty talk”).
- Emotional tone — feeling guilty, ashamed, or degraded (“felt dirty after lying”).
With prepositions and variants
- dirty with mud/grease: “The floor was dirty with dust.”
- dirty from work: “His clothes were dirty from farming.”
- dirty about someone (slang, UK): “She did him dirty” (treated unfairly).
Common collocations
dirty clothes, dirty hands, dirty look, dirty trick, dirty business, dirty joke, dirty talk, dirty secret, dirty politics, dirty word
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- dirty laundry — private matters revealed in public
- dirty money — money from crime or corruption
- do someone dirty — treat someone unfairly (slang)
- dirty look — glare of disapproval
- play dirty — act unfairly
Word comparisons
- dirty vs unclean: both mean not clean; unclean = more formal, dirty = everyday use.
- dirty vs obscene: obscene = extremely offensive; dirty = mildly vulgar or sexual.
- dirty vs naughty: naughty = playful sexual innuendo; dirty = stronger, sometimes crude.
Real-life examples
- “The kids came home with dirty shoes.”
- “He told a dirty joke at the bar.”
- “Corruption was linked to dirty money.”
- “She gave him a dirty look.”
- “The politician used dirty tricks to win.”
Sample sentences
- “Her clothes were dirty after gardening.”
- “He gave me a dirty look.”
- “They exposed his dirty secrets.”
- “Stop playing dirty in the game.”
- “She whispered something dirty in his ear.”
- “The politician was accused of dirty tricks.”
- “The workers got dirty fixing the machine.”
- “He felt dirty after lying to his friend.”
- “They made dirty jokes at the party.”
- “Dirty politics ruined his reputation.”
Synonyms
unclean, filthy, soiled, grimy, impure, vulgar, obscene, corrupt, sleazy
Antonyms
clean, pure, spotless, neat, wholesome, honest, fair
Related terms
unclean, vulgar, obscene, naughty, obscene language, corruption, impurity
Connection to sexuality
Yes. Dirty often has a sexual meaning, especially in slang. “Dirty joke,” “dirty talk,” or “dirty pictures” refer to sexual or obscene material. While “dirty” can simply mean “unclean,” in sexual contexts it carries both excitement and stigma, depending on tone.
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