# dirtier

/ˈdɝtiɝ/ (US) · /dˈɜːtɪɐ/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dirtier
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

having more dust, mud, or marks than something else.

For teachers: comparative of 'dirty'; showing a greater degree of soiling, grime, or impurity than something else.

## Examples

- My shoes get dirtier when it rains.
- The kitchen floor looks dirtier after the party, so we mop it before guests arrive.
- The river runs dirtier downstream of the factory, carrying sediment and waste that dulls its once-clear surface.

## Pitfalls

- Not "more dirtier than mine" but "dirtier than mine" — Short adjectives form the comparative with -er alone; do not add 'more'.

## Usage notes

- Comparative of 'dirty'; typically followed by 'than' when the compared item is stated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.