unwashed

[ uhn-wosht, -wawsht ]

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.

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

/ ʌnˈwɒʃt /

adjective

1. not washed

plural noun

1. the great unwashed humorous.
   the masses

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwashed¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; un- ¹ + wash ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

One tip: Wash your greens and veggies and store them wet in their bags in the crisper drawer; keep your mushrooms and berries unwashed and dry in their bags until you use them.

From Los Angeles Times

One popular conspiracy theory held that the houses of respectable Protestant families were being raffled off in Catholic churches, to be invaded by unwashed broods of Irish peasants as soon as home rule was established.

From Salon

As such, it's best to store these unwashed in the fridge, only washing when you're ready to eat them.

From Salon

Trump's cartoonish image of "strength" fed to the unwashed masses at his rallies and who watch FOX News does not hold up in the harsh reality of a Manhattan courtroom.

From Salon

Some are passed down the generations - decades-old and unwashed - so "they contain the sweat, the economic struggles, the personal struggles, and the spirit of people", says Mahama.

From BBC