smut

1 of 2

verb

ˈsmət 

smutted; smutting

transitive verb

1

: to stain or taint with smut

2

: to affect (a crop or plant) with smut

intransitive verb

: to become affected by smut

smut

2 of 2

noun

1

: matter that soils or blackens

specifically : a particle of soot

2

: any of various destructive diseases especially of cereal grasses caused by parasitic basidiomycetous fungi (order Ustilaginales) and marked by transformation of plant parts into dark masses of spores

also : a fungus causing a smut

3

: obscene language or matter

Synonyms

Noun

• crud
• dirt
• filth
• grime
• gunk
• muck
• soil

Examples of smut in a Sentence

Noun

Smut is not allowed in this house.

obscenity laws that aimed to stamp out smut

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Babygirl is as addicting as any romance page-turner and hotter than the most popular smut on the market, with a smart twist on female desire and power. —Helen Murphy, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024

But this is often undermined by the series’ predilection for smut. —Lucy Ford, TIME, 24 Sep. 2024

These authors built up readerships just by cranking out 300 pages of smut and then putting it on Kindle and now they’re getting scooped up by publishers. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2024

There are pulpy novels that are straight-up smut and novels that take an intellectual look at sexuality. —Shannon Carlin, refinery29.com, 15 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably alteration of earlier smot to stain, from Middle English smotten; akin to Middle High German smutzen to stain

First Known Use

Verb

1587, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing smut

• anti-smut
• covered smut
• loose smut
• stinking smut

Kids Definition

smut

1 of 2 verb

ˈsmət 

smutted; smutting

1

: to stain, soil, or affect (a crop or plant) with smut

2

: to become affected by smut

smut

2 of 2 noun

1

: matter that soils or blackens

especially : a particle of soot

2

: any of various destructive diseases of plants caused by fungi that transform plant organs (as seeds) into dark masses of spores

also : a fungus that causes a smut

3

: indecent language, pictures, or writing

Medical Definition

smut

noun

ˈsmət 

: any of various destructive diseases especially of cereal grasses caused by parasitic fungi (order Ustilaginales)

also : a fungus causing a smut