# shitty

/ˈʃɪˌti/ (US) · /ʃˈɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shitty
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. very bad or low quality

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

very bad, unpleasant, or made poorly.

For teachers: of extremely poor quality or standard; failing to meet expectations in a frustrating way.

- I had a really shitty day at work and just want to go to sleep.
- The contractor did a shitty job on the roof, and now it leaks every time there is a minor rainstorm.

Usage: Commonly used to describe experiences, objects, or weather.

### 2. unfair or unkind

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

treating someone in an unfair or mean way.

For teachers: characterised by unkindness, selfishness, or a lack of ethics in interpersonal treatment.

- It was a shitty thing to do, leaving him to pay the whole bill.
- The company has a history of shitty behavior toward its junior employees, often denying them overtime pay.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'a shitty thing to do'.

### 3. annoyed or angry

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar · British English · Dialect

feeling annoyed or in a bad mood with someone.

For teachers: experiencing a state of irritation or resentment toward a person or situation.

- Don't get shitty with me just because you lost your keys.
- He's been acting shitty all afternoon because his football team lost the match.

Teaching tip: This sense is particularly common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English; learners should be aware it sounds very aggressive in American English.

## Examples

- I had a really shitty day at work today.
- The weather was absolutely shitty for the entire weekend, so we stayed inside and watched movies.
- The protagonist's descent into cynicism is accelerated by a series of shitty jobs and even shittier living conditions in the city's industrial district.

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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.