English Reference
Noun

clutter

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈkɫətɝ/ UK /klˈʌtɐ/ clut·ter UK spelling clutters Mathematics

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.


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.


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.

This entry
Origin Middle English cloteren
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated