earthy
Americanadjective
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of the nature of or consisting of earth or soil.
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characteristic of earth.
an earthy smell.
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realistic; practical.
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coarse or unrefined.
an earthy sense of humor.
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direct; robust; unaffected.
an earthy, generous woman.
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(of a mineral) having a dull luster and rough to the touch.
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Archaic. worldly; pertaining to the earth.
adjective
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of, composed of, or characteristic of earth
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robust, lusty, or uninhibited
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unrefined, coarse, or crude
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an archaic word for worldly
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electrical engineering on the earthed side of an electrical circuit, but not necessarily with a direct current connection to earth
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing earthy
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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.
The Aire Sutileza Elixir is floral, fresh and earthy, featuring notes of pear, lemon, jasmine sambac, vetiver, sandalwood and musk.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
Tahini has a kind of quiet luxury to it — less sweet than nut butters, less showy, with a soft, earthy depth that can tip, just slightly, into bitterness in a way that feels intentional.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
Many of the looks featured this season's favourite colour - chocolate brown, along with earthy beiges and crisp whites.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
Hearing the crackle of a small flame — that slightly charred, earthy smell — while a slab of pork fat pops in the cooking kettle, slowly melting down as the base for tonight’s sauce.
From Salon • Jan. 24, 2026
A foul and pungent smell, an earthy mix of rust and excrement, hung in the air.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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.
