# dirty

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈdɜːti/ · frequency rank #2,727

## Definitions
1. Unclean; covered with or containing unpleasant substances such as dirt or grime.
2. That makes one unclean; corrupting, infecting.
3. Morally unclean; obscene or indecent, especially sexually.
4. Dishonorable; violating accepted standards or rules.
5. Corrupt, illegal, or improper.
6. Out of tune.
7. Of color, discolored by impurities.
8. Containing data needing to be written back to memory or disk.
9. Carrying illegal drugs among one's possessions or inside of one's bloodstream.
10. Used as an intensifier, especially in conjunction with "great".
11. Sleety; gusty; stormy.
12. Of an alcoholic beverage, especially a cocktail or mixed drink: served with the juice of olives.
13. Of food, indulgent in an unhealthy way.
14. Of food, covered in an array of indulgent toppings.
15. Spreading harmful radiation over a wide area.
16. Having the undercarriage or flaps in the down position.
17. Of an audio recording: containing unwanted noise.
18. Producing much ash.

## Etymology
From Middle English dirti, alteration of earlier dritti, equivalent to dirt + -y. Cognate with Middle Low German drēterich (“dirty”).
See also drite.

## Easily confused with
- **dry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-dry)
- **DIY** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-diy)
- **dit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-dit)
- **duty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-duty)
- **dory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-dory)
- **dist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-dist)
- **dusty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-dusty)
- **dizzy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-dizzy)
- **ditto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-ditto)
- **dorky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-dorky)
- **ditty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirty-vs-ditty)
- **diet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diet-vs-dirty)
- **dirt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirt-vs-dirty)
- **dire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dire-vs-dirty)
- **dart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dirty)
- **dirk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dirk-vs-dirty)
- **dint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dint-vs-dirty)
- **derby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/derby-vs-dirty)
- **dairy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dairy-vs-dirty)
- **diary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diary-vs-dirty)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddirty`, `dirrty`, `dirtty`, `dirtyy`, `diryt`, `ditry`, `drity`, `idrty`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dirty