crude

adjective

ˈkrüd 

cruder; crudest

1

: marked by the primitive, gross, or elemental or by uncultivated simplicity or vulgarity

a crude stereotype

crude tools

crude jokes

2

: existing in a natural state and unaltered by cooking or processing

crude oil

crude ore

3

: rough or inexpert in plan or execution

a crude shelter

4

: lacking a covering, glossing, or concealing element : obvious

crude facts

5

: tabulated without being broken down into classes

the crude death rate

6

archaic : unripe, immature

crudely adverb

crudeness noun

Synonyms of crude

• raw
• natural
• native
• unrefined

Choose the Right Synonym for crude

rude, rough, crude, raw mean lacking in social refinement.

rude implies ignorance of or indifference to good form; it may suggest intentional discourtesy.

rude behavior

rough is likely to stress lack of polish and gentleness.

rough manners

crude may apply to thought or behavior limited to the gross, the obvious, or the primitive.

a crude joke

raw suggests being untested, inexperienced, or unfinished.

turning raw youths into polished performers

Examples of crude in a Sentence

They built a crude shelter out of branches.

a crude summary of the country's history

She first described the procedure in crude terms, and then went into more detail.

Recent Examples on the Web

America’s stockpile of emergency crude oil is shrinking fast, rapidly approaching the four-decade low set under former President Joe Biden. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

In a note, SocGen commodity analysts said the 14% loss in global crude supply, largely driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed prices about 30% higher. —Hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 June 2026

The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, briefly topped $98 overnight. —Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

His career ended when a series of crude and insulting texts about Read came to light during her first trial. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin crudus raw, crude, undigested — more at raw

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing crude

• crude death rate

Rhymes for crude

• blued
• booed
• brewed
• brood
• chewed
• cooed
• coude
• cued
• dude
• feud
• food
• glued

Kids Definition

crude

1 of 2 adjective

ˈkrüd 

cruder; crudest

1

: being in a natural state and not changed by cooking or refining : raw

crude oil

2

: not having or showing good manners : vulgar

3

: planned or done in a rough or unskilled way

a crude drawing

crudely adverb

crudeness noun

crude

2 of 2 noun

: crude oil