rusty

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈrə-stē 

rustier; rustiest

1

: affected by or as if by rust

especially : stiff with or as if with rust

2

: inept and slow through lack of practice or old age

3

a

: of the color rust

b

: dulled in color or appearance by age and use

rusty old boots

4

: outmoded

5

: hoarse, grating

rustily

ˈrə-stə-lē 

adverb

rustiness

ˈrə-stē-nəs 

noun

rusty

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rus·​ty ˈrə-stē 

rustier; rustiest

chiefly dialectal

: ill-natured, surly

Synonyms

Adjective (1)

• archaic
• antiquated
• obsolete
• medieval
• old
• prehistoric

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 rusty color of the leaves feel like fall without looking too fake or too orange. —Jeaneen Russell, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025

The destruction of tallgrass prairie for industrial agriculture threatens the rusty patched bumblebee. —Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Others push rusty wheelchairs, old shopping carts, or can be seen riding on city rental bikes. —Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

Plenty of them paused at times to watch their veteran ace slinging fastballs and sliders, looking anything but rusty after the downtime. —David O'Brien, New York Times, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (2)

alteration of restive

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

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

Adjective (2)

1694, 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