dirt

noun

ˈdərt 

1

a

: excrement

b

: a filthy or soiling substance (such as mud, dust, or grime)

c

archaic : something worthless

d

: a contemptible person

treated me like dirt

2

: loose or packed soil or sand : earth

a mound of dirt

a dirt road

3

a

: an abject or filthy state : squalor

living in dirt

b

: corruption, chicanery

vowed to clean up the dirt in the city government

c

: licentiousness of language or theme

d

: scandalous or malicious gossip

spreading dirt about his ex-wife

e

: embarrassing or incriminating information

trying to dig up dirt on her political rivals

Synonyms of dirt

• soil
• ground
• mud
• sand

Examples of dirt in a Sentence

Pack dirt loosely around the base of the plant.

You've got some dirt on your face.

Their shoes were covered with dirt.

No amount of cleaning will get rid of all this dirt.

Recent Examples on the Web

Investigators found evidence of horse and human prints in the dirt as well as reviews on popular hiking websites showing people did regularly access the area. — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 25 June 2026

Sulwhasoo's Gentle Cleansing Foam creates a rich lather that removes dirt, oil, and makeup without stripping skin, while ingredients like ginseng, orange peel, chestnut shell, and yam root leave your complexion soft, balanced, and comfortably hydrated. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026

Right now, most of that dirt is trucked away to landfills. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026

Construction trucks continue hauling and moving dirt across the site as crews work throughout the development, bringing retail anchors one step closer to opening. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English drit, from Old Norse; akin to Old English drītan to defecate

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dirt

• dirt bike
• dirt cheap
• dirt farmer
• dirt floor
• dirt-poor
• dirt road
• hit/strike pay dirt
• hit the dirt
• in the dirt
• pay dirt
• treat someone like dirt

Rhymes for dirt

• blurt
• chert
• curt
• flirt
• girt
• hurt
• peart
• pert
• shirt
• skirt
• spurt
• squirt

Kids Definition

dirt

noun

ˈdərt 

1

: a filthy or soiling substance (as mud, dust, or grime)

2

: loose or packed earth : soil

a mound of dirt

3

a

: corruption sense 2

b

: indecent language : obscenity

4

: harmful gossip

stop spreading dirt about him