rusty

1 of 3

adjective (1)

ˈrə-stē 

rustier; rustiest

1

: affected by or as if by rust

especially : stiff with or as if with rust

2

: not as good or quick as usual or as in the past because of lack of practice or use

3

a

: of the color rust

b

: dulled in color or appearance by age and use

rusty old boots

4

: outmoded

rusty jokes

5

: hoarse, grating

rustily

ˈrə-stə-lē 

adverb

rustiness

ˈrə-stē-nəs 

noun

rusty

2 of 3

adjective (2)

rus·​ty ˈrə-stē 

rustier; rustiest

chiefly dialectal

: ill-natured, surly

rustiness

3 of 3

noun

rust·​i·​ness -tēnə̇s 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being rusty

Synonyms of rusty

Adjective (1)

• archaic
• obsolete
• antiquated
• medieval
• old

Examples of rusty in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

rusty laws still on the books because no one bothered to repeal them

in a rusty voice the old man ordered us off his land

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The sisters looked rusty in a first-round match against Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, losing 6-2, 1-6, 10-8, but came close to a stunning comeback in the deciding 10-point tiebreak. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

And so Steiner did, his voice sounding raspy and rusty in the early innings but getting stronger with each successive inning. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

The footage begins with Flynn Gray’s young man walking into a rusty spaceship garage. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Rohrabacher definitely looked rusty after so much time away, and Brooklyn is in a hole. — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (2)

alteration of restive

Noun

Middle English rustynes, from rusty + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1694, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rusty

• crusty
• dusty
• gusty
• lusty
• musty
• trusty

Kids Definition

rusty

adjective

ˈrəs-tē

rustier; rustiest

1

: affected by or as if by rust

2

: less skilled and slow through lack of practice or old age

3

: of the color rust

rustily

-tə-lē

adverb

rustiness

-tē-nəs

noun