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.
Earthy pistachios add a delightful crunch, while the smoky heat of harissa complements the halibut’s subtle sweetness.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024
Earthy, low and warm, this is Monroe’s singing at its best.
From Washington Post • Sep. 23, 2022
"They were given priority to get to Kuwait, and my passengers, men, women and children, took second place," Mr Earthy tells the BBC.
From BBC • Aug. 4, 2021
Earthy and precise, with flavors of herbs and red fruits.
From New York Times • Sep. 13, 2018
Earthy constituents, those which are left in the form of ashes when a leaf or a stick of wood is burned in the open air.
From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa
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.
