rubbish

American  

[ruhb-ish] / ˈrʌb ɪʃ /

noun

1. worthless, unwanted material that is rejected or thrown out; debris; litter; trash.

2. nonsense, as in writing or art.

   sentimental rubbish.

   Synonyms:

   bosh, drivel, balderdash, rot

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rubbish British  

/ ˈrʌbɪʃ /

noun

1. worthless, useless, or unwanted matter

2. discarded or waste matter; refuse

3. foolish words or speech; nonsense

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verb

1. informal (tr) to criticize; attack verbally

rubbish Idioms  

1. see good riddance (to bad rubbish).

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Usage

What is rubbish? Rubbish is unwanted material, such as something you throw into a waste barrel, like a banana peel. Rubbish is also something that is considered nonsense and not worth anything, like an idea or a piece of art. In Australia and New Zealand, rubbish can mean to criticize or verbally attack. It’s often used informally. Example: Make sure you clean up all this rubbish before you leave tonight.

Etymology

Origin of rubbish

1350–1400; Middle English rubbes, rob ( b ) ous < ?; cf. rubble

Explanation

Rubbish is a synonym for garbage or trash. The word is more commonly used by speakers of British English than by speakers of American English. The noun rubbish also means writing or speech that is worthless, untrue, or nonsense, especially in British English. Your teacher might tell you that your paper thesis is a load of rubbish if it states that Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt were aliens sent from another planet to "fix" World War II. In British slang, rubbish is also a verb that means to criticize strongly. Don't be surprised when the professor rubbishes your paper — he's a well-known Churchill scholar.

Example Sentences

Drivers slow down along the A82, take in the air off Loch Lomond, and toss their rubbish out of the window - Patrick Calhoun has watched it happen year after year.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

The acrimonious dispute with striking bin workers also continues - agency crews have been picking up the city's rubbish weekly, but recycling hasn't been collected in more than a year.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

The bird was discovered by airport police near terminal one after being spotted perched on a rubbish bin.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

He described how possessions had been either "thrown" into corners or bagged with rubbish, rather than being placed in the coffins of loved ones ahead of burials or cremations.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

“And took the rubbish out,” his mum said quietly, looking at how neat he’d left the kitchen.

From "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

Related Words

• debris
• junk
• lumber
• rubble
• trash
• waste