crude
Americanadjective
-
in a raw or unprepared state; unrefined or natural.
crude sugar.
- Synonyms:
- coarse, unfinished
- Antonyms:
- refined
-
lacking in intellectual subtlety, perceptivity, etc.; rudimentary; undeveloped.
-
lacking finish, polish, or completeness.
a crude summary.
-
lacking culture, refinement, tact, etc..
crude behavior.
- Antonyms:
- refined
-
undisguised; blunt.
a crude answer.
-
Obsolete. unripe; not mature.
noun
adjective
-
lacking taste, tact, or refinement; vulgar
a crude joke
-
in a natural or unrefined state
-
lacking care, knowledge, or skill
a crude sketch
-
(prenominal) stark; blunt
the crude facts
-
(of statistical data) unclassified or unanalysed
-
archaic unripe
noun
Related Words
See raw.
Other Word Forms
- crudely adverb
- crudeness noun
- crudity noun
- uncrude adjective
- uncrudeness noun
Etymology
Origin of crude
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin crūdus “uncooked, raw, bleeding, rough,” akin to cruor “blood from a wound”; see raw
Explanation
Is it gross? Unsophisticated? Totally tasteless and positively offensive? Then you can describe it as crude. Crude is not rude when it’s used to describe unprocessed oil, which it first was associated with in 1865. From the Latin crudo, meaning "rough, raw," crude today can be used to describe anything or anyone that's unrefined and rough around the edges. So don’t be too insulted by the large-nosed portrait that cartoonist made for you. It’s just a quick, crude drawing meant to be funny.
Vocabulary lists containing crude
The Diary of Anne Frank
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List 3
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
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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.
Iranian crude oil and condensate loadings averaged 2.1 million barrels a day between April 1 and April 13.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Kpler estimates Iranian crude production could fall from current levels by more than half, to between 1.2 million and 1.3 million barrels a day, by mid-May if the blockade holds.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
West Texas Intermediate crude oil is a critical economic indicator, reflecting global activity, inflation, and influencing AI buildout costs.
From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026
Since March 23, there have been seven intraday peaks in Brent crude futures above $101, according to FactSet data, with the highest being $102.77 on March 31.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
She returned to the doorway holding a crude, narrow box made of splintered wood, wire, and long, jutting nails.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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.
