unclean

[ uhn-kleen ]

adjective

, un·clean·er, un·clean·est.

1. not clean; dirty.

   Synonyms: filthy

2. morally impure; evil; vile:

   unclean thoughts.

   Synonyms: polluted, corrupt, sinful, unchaste, base

3. Chiefly Biblical. having a physical or moral blemish so as to make impure according to the laws, especially the dietary or ceremonial laws:

   an unclean animal; unclean persons.

unclean

/ ʌnˈkliːn /

adjective

1. lacking moral, spiritual, ritual, or physical cleanliness

Derived Forms

• unˈcleanness, noun

Other Words From

• un·cleanness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unclean¹

before 900; Middle English unclene, Old English unclǣne. See un- ¹, clean

Example Sentences

Disgust is a strong feeling of revulsion in response to objects perceived to be contaminating, polluting or unclean.

From Salon

“Your policy is dumb,” Farr recalled telling the school, which argued in its response to his lawsuit that his daughter was eating lunch in the girls’ restroom and had unclean hands.

From Seattle Times

Shortages of water lead to problems for agriculture and health implications as people are forced to use unclean sources, taking the time and energy of children to fetch water, affecting their education, he said.

From Seattle Times

It isn’t; it’s about hard, unclean choices in a winner-take-all system.

From Seattle Times

In the era of dynastic kingdoms, cows were used as a valuable form of agricultural labor rather than food, and pigs were seen as unclean.

From Los Angeles Times