English Reference
Adjective

unsanitary

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ənˈsænəˌtɛɹi/ UK /ʌnsˈænɪtəɹi/ un·san·i·tary

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.


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.

It's people who are finding themselves living in really unsafe, unsanitary conditions through no fault of their own.

BBC News· 22 Aug 2026

From un- + sanitary.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated