# dusty

/ˈdəsti/ (US) · /dˈʌsti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dusty
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. covered in dust

adjective · CEFR A2

covered with a layer of fine powder or dirt.

For teachers: covered with or full of dust; having a surface layer of fine particulate matter.

- The old books on the top shelf were very dusty because no one had touched them for years.
- After the long drought, every surface in the house was coated in a fine, dusty residue that seemed to penetrate even the sealed windows.

### 2. outdated

adjective · CEFR B2

old-fashioned or not updated for a long time.

For teachers: figuratively used to describe things that are outdated, stale, or haven't been revised in a significant period.

- The company needs to change its dusty old rules to attract younger workers.
- The professor's dusty lectures on 19th-century trade routes failed to engage a classroom of students raised on digital media.

### 3. bad or ugly

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for something that looks bad, ugly, or poor quality.

For teachers: a derogatory slang term used to describe someone or something as physically unattractive, inadequate, or of low social value.

- He showed up to the party in some dusty old trainers that were falling apart.
- The online comments were filled with people calling the new design dusty, reflecting a harsh shift in youth fashion trends.

### 4. an old record

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

a slang term for an old song or record, especially from the past.

For teachers: informal term for a vintage music recording, particularly in R&B or hip-hop circles, referring to 'dusting off' an old vinyl.

- The DJ played a few dusties from the 70s that got everyone dancing.
- He spent his weekends digging through crates at the flea market, hoping to find a rare dusty to sample for his next track.

### 5. military supply officer

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Informal

a nickname for a person in the navy or military who looks after supplies.

For teachers: a traditional military or naval nickname for a supply petty officer or clerk.

- Go see the dusty if you need a new pair of boots from the warehouse.
- The ship's dusty was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the inventory, able to locate a spare valve in minutes.

## Examples

- The old books on the shelf are very dusty.
- After the long drive across the desert, the entire car was covered in a thick, dusty layer of sand.
- The sunlight streaming through the attic window revealed thousands of dusty motes dancing in the stagnant air, highlighting decades of undisturbed storage.

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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.