# stained

/ˈsteɪnd/ (US) · /stˈeɪnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stained
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. dirty or marked

adjective · CEFR B1

having a dirty mark that is difficult or impossible to wash away.

For teachers: marked with a discolouration that has penetrated the surface and is resistant to standard cleaning.

- He was embarrassed because his favorite white shirt was stained with coffee.
- The carpet in the hallway was badly stained from years of heavy foot traffic and accidental spills that were never properly treated.

### 2. coloured with dye

adjective · CEFR B2

coloured by a special liquid that soaks into the material, like wood or glass.

For teachers: treated with a pigment or dye that penetrates the substrate to alter its colour while often leaving the texture visible.

- The dark stained wood of the table made the room look very elegant.
- The sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, casting vibrant patterns of red and blue across the stone floor of the cathedral.

### 3. damaged a reputation

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

to have damaged someone's reputation or good name.

For teachers: to have brought reproach or disgrace upon a person's character or record. Transitive in this figurative sense.

- The scandal stained his reputation for the rest of his career.
- The allegations of corruption stained the minister's legacy, overshadowing the significant social reforms he had implemented during his first term.

## Examples

- The red wine stained my white shirt.
- Be careful with that coffee because it will stain the carpet if you spill it.
- The leaked chemicals stained the riverbanks a deep orange, providing a visible and lasting record of the factory's environmental negligence.

---

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.