unwashed

[uhn-wosht, -wawsht]

adjective

1. not cleaned or purified by or as if by washing.

   unwashed dishes;

   the unwashed soul of a sinner.

2. pertaining to or characteristic of the common people; untutored, unsophisticated, or ignorant; plebeian.

   the power of the unwashed electorate.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. an ignorant or lower-class group; rabble.

   The author claimed that the unwashed would not understand his books.

unwashed

/ ʌnˈwɒʃt /

adjective

1. not washed

plural noun

1. humorous,  the masses

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwashed¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; un- ¹ + wash ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

He could smell unwashed bodies in the cramped room he shared with 40 detainees.

From Los Angeles Times

Rhetorical listening means avoiding the urge to one-up the opponent or convert the unwashed masses.

From Salon

Ms Eshghi said she would be sent to school unwashed, wearing broken wellington boots, with just a cream cracker in her lunchbox.

From BBC

Reading Borough Council inspectors also found light switches and taps were unwashed and blood-stained cardboard on the floor.

From BBC

A sink overflowing with unwashed dishes marks the start of her workday.

From Los Angeles Times