earthy

[ur-thee]

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.

earthy

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• earthily adverb
• earthiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of earthy¹

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

Example Sentences

An earthy scent hangs like humidity in the air, leaving me feeling a little lightheaded.

Read more on Literature

Each muffin is a little mosaic, bright, earthy and full of texture — a perfect morning or mid-afternoon snack.

Read more on Salon

A jumble of rectangles snaps into a rigidly composed vista of a white gate set into an earthy wall.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Young Prunella also hid her middle-class roots, conscious that directors were beginning to look for a new kind of earthy credibility in their actors.

Read more on BBC

The tea leaves are grown in the shade, specially processed and then stone-ground into the bright green, earthy powder used in drinks and desserts.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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