Word
clutter
Phoneticsclut·ter, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɫətɝ/
UK/klˈʌtɐ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a large amount of things that are messy and not organized. You usually find it in a room or on a desk where things are not put away.
n. a collection of things lying about in an untidy or confused state. Refers to both physical objects and abstract concepts like mental or digital disorganisation.
Examples
“I need to clear the clutter off my desk before I start working.”
“The hallway was filled with household clutter, making it difficult for guests to walk through the front door.”
“Minimalist design focuses on removing visual clutter to create a space that promotes calm and clarity, whereas a lived-in home often accumulates layers of sentimental objects over time.”
Examples
simple
“I need to clear the clutter off my desk before I start working.”
contextual
“The hallway was filled with household clutter, making it difficult for guests to walk through the front door.”
complex
“Minimalist design focuses on removing visual clutter to create a space that promotes calm and clarity, whereas a lived-in home often accumulates layers of sentimental objects over time.”
Real-World Examples
“The links I was actually seeking were buried by clutter.” Etymology
From Middle English cloteren (“to form clots; coagulate; heap on”), from clot (“clot”), equivalent to clot + -er (frequentative suffix). Compare Welsh cludair (“heap, pile”), cludeirio (“to heap”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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