ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unclean

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ənˈkɫin// UK //ʌnklˈiːn// un·clean

adj. dirty or not pure. You use this to describe something that needs washing or something that is not allowed for religious reasons.

adj. soiled or contaminated; not clean. In a religious or ritual context, refers to being spiritually impure or prohibited by law.


SIMPLE

The kitchen floor was unclean after the party.

CONTEXTUAL

The health inspector closed the restaurant because the food preparation surfaces were found to be unclean.

COMPLEX

In many ancient cultures, certain animals were considered unclean and could not be eaten or touched without undergoing a ritual purification process.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English unclene, from Old English unclǣne, equivalent to un- + clean.

Usage

Often used in a literal sense for physical dirt, but carries a stronger, more formal or moral weight than the word 'dirty'.

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