dingy

[ din-jee ]

adjective

, din·gi·er, din·gi·est.

1. of a dark, dull, or dirty color or aspect; lacking brightness or freshness.
2. shabby; dismal.

dingy

/ ˈdɪndʒɪ /

adjective

1. lacking light or brightness; drab
2. dirty; discoloured

Derived Forms

• ˈdingily, adverb
• ˈdinginess, noun

Other Words From

• dingi·ly adverb
• dingi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dingy¹

First recorded in 1730–40; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of dingy¹

C18: perhaps from an earlier dialect word related to Old English dynge dung

Example Sentences

They and others without access to willing doctors perished at a horrifying rate from self-abortions or operations performed in “dark, dingy apartments,” the documentary reports,

From Los Angeles Times

A delay in getting new rail cars could push back Metro’s expansion and leave passengers stuck with the dingier older cars as hundreds of thousands of people descend on the region for the Games.

From Los Angeles Times

For every set, though, walls were never moved for the camera’s sake, “so you’re true to the claustrophobia,” says Gropman, and in the case of the dingy New York SRO, “the meanness of that space.”

From Los Angeles Times

Last year also saw James Blunt crowd-surfing all the way to the back of the crowd in an inflatable dingy, and Hanson joining Busted on stage for a version of MMMBop.

From BBC

Before he emerged into the dimly lit hallway on the 15th floor of that dingy Art Deco courthouse, he huddled, for a spell, with his team.

From New York Times

Related Words

• dilapidated
• dirty
• drab
• dreary
• grimy
• run down
• seedy
• shabby