unclean
Americanadjective
-
not clean; dirty.
- Synonyms:
- filthy
-
morally impure; evil; vile.
unclean thoughts.
-
Chiefly Biblical. having a physical or moral blemish so as to make impure according to the laws, especially the dietary or ceremonial laws.
an unclean animal; unclean persons.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of unclean
before 900; Middle English unclene, Old English unclǣne. See un- 1, clean
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A longstanding taboo in Chinese culture against used goods, seen as unclean or a shameful sign of poverty, is lifting rapidly.
From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026
Sick dogs can easily be reinfected by grooming themselves and living in an unclean environment.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
She is now living in temporary shelter where food is scarce and water unclean.
From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025
The left hand, considered unclean, is reserved for personal hygiene.
From Salon • Jul. 3, 2025
I felt that I had been dealing with something unclean.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
