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

Or added to chicken stock to make an earthy autumnal soup.

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This adds an earthy, smokiness to the potatoes while ensuring you don’t end up with burnt marshmallows.

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

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

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

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Related Words

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