unwashed

1 of 2

adjective

un·​washed ˌən-ˈwȯsht How to pronounce unwashed (audio)
-ˈwäsht
1
: not cleaned with or as if with soap and water
2
: ignorant, plebeian
the unwashed masses
unwashedness noun

unwashed

2 of 2

noun

: an ignorant or underprivileged group : rabble
usually used with great
the great unwashed

Examples of unwashed in a Sentence

Adjective a sink full of unwashed dishes a TV producer who knew what the unwashed masses wanted—and unhesitatingly gave it to them Noun Aunt Edna was fond of snootily reminding us that we need not take our manners from the great unwashed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The key to making beautiful music is unwashed hair. Lane Scott Jones, Longreads, 25 June 2024 Price range: $$$ Return policy: All unused, unworn, unwashed, or defective items may be returned within 60 days of your ship date. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 21 June 2024 Unfortunately, preaching patience to the unwashed pinstriped masses are drowned out by those who rather jump to premature conclusions on social media or elsewhere. Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 15 June 2024 There were bags of trash that hadn’t been taken out, a closet full of dirty laundry sprawled all over, and unwashed dishes in the sink. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for unwashed 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unwashed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwashed was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near unwashed

Cite this Entry

“Unwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwashed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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