unwashed

American  

[uhn-wosht, -wawsht] / ʌnˈwɒʃt, -ˈwɔʃt /

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.

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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 British  

/ ʌnˈwɒʃt /

adjective

1. not washed

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plural noun

1. humorous the masses

Etymology

Origin of unwashed

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

Example Sentences

The patrons pause scrolling to glance at this unhinged, unwashed man wearing a crown of computer wires wrapped around his head like an IT messiah.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Modi, as the Italian was affectionately called, was urbane, well-groomed and handsome, while Soutine was destitute, sickly and notoriously unwashed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

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

From Salon • Sep. 17, 2025

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

From BBC • May 10, 2025

She had not been allowed to tend it properly penned up in this cell, but even unwashed and tangled it shone where the sun touched it.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin