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

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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2025

Clothes go unwashed and families can’t bathe their children properly, meaning skin diseases and diarrhoea are widespread.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2024

The orange of the setting sun lit her golden curls, unbrushed and unwashed, and her skin was paler than usual, but she looked likeMom.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller