earthy

American  

[ur-thee] / ˈɜr θi /

adjective

earthier, earthiest

1. of the nature of or consisting of earth or soil.

2. characteristic of earth.

   an earthy smell.

3. realistic; practical.

4. coarse or unrefined.

   an earthy sense of humor.

   Synonyms:

   rough, lusty

   Antonyms:

   refined, genteel

5. direct; robust; unaffected.

   an earthy, generous woman.

6. (of a mineral) having a dull luster and rough to the touch.

7. Archaic. worldly; pertaining to the earth.

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earthy British  

/ ˈɜːθɪ /

adjective

1. of, composed of, or characteristic of earth

2. robust, lusty, or uninhibited

3. unrefined, coarse, or crude

4. an archaic word for worldly

5. electrical engineering on the earthed side of an electrical circuit, but not necessarily with a direct current connection to earth

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• earthily
  adverb
• earthiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of earthy

First recorded in 1350–1400, earthy is from the Middle English word erthy. See earth, -y ¹

Explanation

The adjective earthy runs the gamut from "crunchy" to "crude." You could use earthy to describe bohemian fashion or a vulgar comedian. Just don't use it to describe our planet. Adding one letter y to earth changes earth's status from a noun to an adjective. And what a versatile adjective it is! You could use it in a more literal way, like the "earthy smell" coming from the vegetable garden. Or, you could use it in a more figurative way — like to describe someone who wears Birkenstock sandals and grows her own bean sprouts. Earthy can also be used to describe someone who tends to be gross or vulgar, but this use of the word is somewhat euphemistic.

Related Words

• down-to-earth
• folksy
• funky
• homey
• simple