1 unwashed | Definition of unwashed

unwashed

adjective
un·​washed | \ ˌən-ˈwȯsht How to pronounce unwashed (audio) , -ˈwäsht\

Definition of unwashed

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : not cleaned with or as if with soap and water
2 : ignorant, plebeian the unwashed masses

unwashed

noun

Definition of unwashed (Entry 2 of 2)

: an ignorant or underprivileged group : rabble usually used with great the great unwashed

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Other Words from unwashed

Adjective

unwashedness noun

Examples of unwashed in a Sentence

Adjective

a sink full of unwashed dishes a TV producer who knew what the unwashed masses wanted—and unhestitatingly gave it to them

Noun

Aunt Edna was fond of snootily reminding us that we need not take our manners from the great unwashed.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Taking in the squalor, the stench of unwashed bodies, and the poor health and vacant eyes of the hundreds of children held there, the group members appeared stunned. Ginger Thompson, ProPublica, "A Border Patrol Agent Reveals What It’s Really Like to Guard Migrant Children," 16 July 2019 Keeping migrant kids underfed and unwashed in crowded conditions is wrong. Shirley Leung, BostonGlobe.com, "Business as usual was a bad look for Wayfair execs," 26 June 2019 Food poisoning, in their experience, is an excuse that is wildly overused, suggesting an ominous world in which the average diner must be under near-constant attack from armies of raw chicken and bombardments of unwashed lettuce leaves. Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, "Why you should never tell the boss you have food poisoning," 21 June 2019 Newer, unwashed garments tend to shed more lint than clothing that’s been washed and worn before, Dr. Goldbach says, because the loosest fibers have typically already come off in the wash. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Excuse Me, What Even Is Belly Button Lint?," 1 Mar. 2019 But dirty stethoscopes carry as many germs as unwashed hands, some infection-control specialists say. Lucette Lagnado, WSJ, "Hospitals Step Up the War on Superbugs," 8 Sep. 2018 Most of the women at the OSRW10K are amateur runners, with day jobs and grocery lists and an unwashed load of laundry at home. Pia Peterson, New York Times, "Road Race of the Superwomen," 5 July 2018 Brussels Sprouts For best results, keep unwashed Brussels sprouts in a plastic bag in your fridge. Audrey Bruno, SELF, "Here's How to Store Pretty Much Any Kind of Produce," 25 June 2018 Bell Peppers The pepper farmers at Baloian Farms say that the best way to store bell peppers is in the fridge, unwashed. Audrey Bruno, SELF, "Here's How to Store Pretty Much Any Kind of Produce," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unwashed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of unwashed

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for unwashed

unwashed

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of unwashed

: not clean : not washed

unwashed

adjective
un·​washed | \ ˌən-ˈwȯsht How to pronounce unwashed (audio) , -ˈwäsht\

Kids Definition of unwashed

: not having been washed : dirty unwashed grapes unwashed dishes