unclean

adjective

un·​clean ˌən-ˈklēn 

1

: dirty, filthy

2

: morally or spiritually impure

3

: infected with a harmful supernatural contagion

also : prohibited by ritual law for use or contact

4

: lacking in clarity and precision of conception or execution

uncleanness

ˌən-ˈklēn-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• corrupt
• debased
• debauched
• decadent
• degenerate
• degraded
• demoralized
• depraved
• dissipated
• dissolute
• jackleg
• libertine
• loose
• perverse
• perverted
• rakehell
• rakehelly
• rakish
• reprobate
• sick
• unwholesome
• warped

Examples of unclean in a Sentence

Many of their health problems were caused by unclean living conditions.

there's something unclean about this whole business

Recent Examples on the Web

There was an unclean cardboard box stored on a food contact surface at the prep line. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025

There was black slime-like residue buildup inside an ice machine, and inspectors found unclean knives in a clean storage bin. Employees were eating at the prep line. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025

Droughts, which can lead people to resort to unclean water, triggered outbreaks in Zambia and Zimbabwe; floods, which can destroy infrastructure and contaminate drinking water, did so in Kenya. —Bymartin Enserink, science.org, 6 Feb. 2025

Cooked rice noodles were contaminated after an employee handled them with their bare hands after touching unclean items. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for unclean

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

unclean

adjective

un·​clean ˌən-ˈklēn 

1

: not pure and innocent : wicked

2

: prohibited by religious law for use or contact

3

: dirty entry 1 sense 1, filthy

uncleanness

-ˈklēn-nəs 

noun