rubbish

American  

[ruhb-ish] / ˈrʌb ɪʃ /

noun

1. worthless, unwanted material that is rejected or thrown out; debris; litter; trash.

2. nonsense, as in writing or art.

   sentimental rubbish.

   Synonyms:

   bosh, drivel, balderdash, rot

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rubbish British  

/ ˈrʌbɪʃ /

noun

1. worthless, useless, or unwanted matter

2. discarded or waste matter; refuse

3. foolish words or speech; nonsense

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verb

1. informal (tr) to criticize; attack verbally

rubbish Idioms  

1. see good riddance (to bad rubbish).

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Usage

What is rubbish? Rubbish is unwanted material, such as something you throw into a waste barrel, like a banana peel. Rubbish is also something that is considered nonsense and not worth anything, like an idea or a piece of art. In Australia and New Zealand, rubbish can mean to criticize or verbally attack. It’s often used informally. Example: Make sure you clean up all this rubbish before you leave tonight.

Etymology

Origin of rubbish

1350–1400; Middle English rubbes, rob ( b ) ous < ?; cf. rubble

Explanation

Rubbish is a synonym for garbage or trash. The word is more commonly used by speakers of British English than by speakers of American English. The noun rubbish also means writing or speech that is worthless, untrue, or nonsense, especially in British English. Your teacher might tell you that your paper thesis is a load of rubbish if it states that Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt were aliens sent from another planet to "fix" World War II. In British slang, rubbish is also a verb that means to criticize strongly. Don't be surprised when the professor rubbishes your paper — he's a well-known Churchill scholar.

Example Sentences

Rubbish fires, many related to homeless encampments, have skyrocketed over the last several years, according to Los Angeles Fire Department data.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Pure Rubbish played the second stage on the U.K. run of Ozzfest in 2001.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025

Rubbish remains a huge issue on Everest and other mountains in the region, although there has been an increasing number of clean-up campaigns, including an annual one led by the Nepali Army.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2024

Ms Major added she had been given the nickname "Rubbish Ruth" from some schoolchildren who saw her picking up litter outside their school.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2023

Rubbish and abandoned placards lay in the dirt.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• debris
• junk
• lumber
• rubble
• trash
• waste