# unwashed

/ənˈwɑʃt/ (US) · /ʌnwˈɒʃt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unwashed
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

not clean or not washed. It can also describe someone who does not care about their appearance or social rules.

For teachers: unclean or not having been washed; by extension, describes a person who lacks social polish or conventional grooming standards. Often carries a derogatory or dismissive tone.

## Examples

- The unwashed clothes are starting to smell.
- He was dismissed from the interview because his unwashed appearance suggested a lack of professionalism.
- The critic dismissed the band as a group of unwashed outsiders, failing to recognize the technical mastery hidden behind their intentionally disheveled aesthetic.

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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.