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

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

Residents can bring bulk waste, yard waste, recycling and extra rubbish to the city’s four Drop-Off Station locations. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2025

View 6 Images Unlike cats, our vision is pretty rubbish in very low light conditions. —Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 17 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