unwashed
/' n'w t/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not cleaned with water and soap; dirty: Describes something that has not been washed and is therefore soiled or unclean.
- Of or relating to the common people; the masses: Used to refer to ordinary people, often implying a lack of sophistication or low social status. This usage is frequently seen in the fixed phrase "the great unwashed."
Examples
- Adjective (Not cleaned):
- He left a pile of unwashed clothes on the floor.
- The unwashed dishes in the sink began to smell.
- Adjective (The common people):
- The politician claimed to understand the concerns of the unwashed masses.
- The elite often looked down upon what they called the great unwashed.
Advanced Usage
- "The great unwashed": A collective noun phrase, often used derogatorily or humorously, to refer to the general populace or working class.
- The luxury brand had no interest in marketing to the great unwashed.
Variants and Related Words
- Unclean (adj): Not clean; dirty.
- Soiled (adj): Made dirty.
- Plebeian (adj/n): Of or belonging to the common people (can be synonymous with the second meaning of 'unwashed').
Synonyms
- Dirty: Covered or marked with an unclean substance.
- Filthy: Disgustingly dirty.
- Common: Occurring, found, or done often; not rare (shares the social class meaning).
- Vulgar: Lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined.
Notes on Meaning
- The first meaning (not cleaned) is the literal, primary definition.
- The second meaning (the common people) is figurative and often carries a negative or condescending connotation, especially in the fixed phrase "the great unwashed." It is important to understand the context to interpret which meaning is intended.
Adjective
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not cleaned with or as if with soap and water
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a sink full of unwashed dishes
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of or associated with the great masses of people
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the common people in those days suffered greatly
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behavior that branded him as common
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his square plebeian nose
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a vulgar and objectionable person
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the unwashed masses
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