# scrub

> English word · Adjective · IPA /skɹʌb/ · frequency rank #11,457

## Definitions
1. Mean; dirty; contemptible; scrubby.

## Etymology
Late Middle English in the sense of "stunted tree," a variant of shrub, possibly under Old Norse influence.

## Easily confused with
- **sub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-sub)
- **scum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-scum)
- **Serb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-serb)
- **stub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-stub)
- **snub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-snub)
- **syrup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-syrup)
- **serum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-serum)
- **scuba** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-scuba)
- **shrug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-shrug)
- **scrum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-scrum)
- **shrub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-shrub)
- **strut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-strut)
- **scruff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrub-vs-scruff)
- **scab** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scab-vs-scrub)
- **screw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/screw-vs-scrub)
- **scout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scout-vs-scrub)
- **scrap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrap-vs-scrub)
- **scour** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scour-vs-scrub)
- **scrip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scrip-vs-scrub)
- **scribe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scribe-vs-scrub)

## Common misspellings (8)
`csrub`, `sccrub`, `scrbu`, `scrrub`, `scrubb`, `scurb`, `srcub`, `sscrub`

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