Word
unsanitary
Phoneticsun·san·i·tary
US/ənˈsænəˌtɛɹi/
UK/ʌnsˈænɪtəɹi/
Definition
adj. not clean in a way that is bad for your health. You use this to describe places or things that have dirt, germs, or waste.
adj. not clean in a way that is detrimental to health or hygiene. Often describes environments or conditions that harbor pathogens or refuse.
Examples
“The kitchen was so dirty that it was unsanitary.”
“Health inspectors closed the restaurant because the kitchen was unsanitary and posed a risk of food poisoning.”
“The rapid growth of the city led to the creation of unsanitary living conditions in the slums, where access to clean water and waste disposal was virtually nonexistent.”
Examples
simple
“The kitchen was so dirty that it was unsanitary.”
contextual
“Health inspectors closed the restaurant because the kitchen was unsanitary and posed a risk of food poisoning.”
complex
“The rapid growth of the city led to the creation of unsanitary living conditions in the slums, where access to clean water and waste disposal was virtually nonexistent.”
Real-World Examples
“It's people who are finding themselves living in really unsafe, unsanitary conditions through no fault of their own.” Etymology
From un- + sanitary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unsanitary