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

• clod
• earth
• ground
• mold
• soil

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

Remove any surface dirt, empty the pockets, close zippers to prevent snags, and turn the jacket inside out to protect the outer fabric. —Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025

The family was traveling in a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck that darted right for unknown reasons, left the road, and overturned numerous times on a dirt shoulder in the desert region, according to the Victorville Daily Press and CW affiliate KTLA. —Jillian Frankel, People.com, 13 May 2025

The abode spans two stories with 5,600 square feet of living space set at the end of a gated dirt driveway. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 May 2025

But Pele and his fellow star, Italian forward Giorgio Chinaglia, played on a Met Stadium surface that had the Twins’ infield dirt exposed in front of one goal. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025

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