rubbish

noun

rub·​bish ˈrə-bish 

 dialectal  -bij

1

: useless waste or rejected matter : trash

2

: something that is worthless or nonsensical

few real masterpieces are forgotten and not much rubbish survives

—William Bridges-Adams

rubbishy

ˈrə-bə-shē 

adjective

Synonyms

• chaff
• deadwood
• debris
• dreck
• drek
• dross
• dust
• effluvium
• effluvia
• garbage
• junk
• litter
• offal
• offscouring
• raffle
• refuse
• riffraff
• scrap
• spilth
• trash
• truck
• waste

Examples of rubbish in a Sentence

Please, pick the rubbish up off the ground.

I think what he says is absolute rubbish!

“I'm sorry, but I had to do it.” “Rubbish!”

The food at that restaurant is complete rubbish.

Recent Examples on the Web

This dumping exacts a devastating environmental toll—leaching toxic contaminants into water, air, and food, and miring whole regions in growing fields of rubbish. —Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025

This includes brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2025

But — and here’s the punchline most of you already saw coming — despite the many things that have happened since May 2022, Manchester United are rubbish. —Carl Anka, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

Seven-year-old Maria and her mother live in their own loving world built on sorting through bins and collecting shiny rubbish. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English robous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rubbish

• rubbish bin
• rubbish tip/dump

Kids Definition

rubbish

noun

rub·​bish ˈrəb-ish 

: useless waste or stuff that has been thrown away : trash

rubbishy

-ē 

adjective