earthy

adjective

ˈər-thē  -t͟hē 

earthier; earthiest

1

a

: of, relating to, or consisting of earth

earthy creatures like worms

b

: suggestive of earth (as in texture, odor, or color)

an earthy yellow

c

: rough, coarse, or plain in taste

earthy flavors

2

a

archaic : earthly, worldly

b

: characteristic of or associated with mortal life on the earth

prefers earthy to ethereal themes

3

: suggestive of plain or poor people or their ways: such as

a

: practical, down-to-earth

earthy problems of daily life

b

: crude, gross

earthy humor

c

: plain and simple in style : unsophisticated

earthy peasant cookery

earthy decor

4

informal : crunchy sense 2

Belly dance—big with earthy types in the '70s and early '80s—is once again hip …

—Valerie Berenyi

earthiness noun

Synonyms of earthy

• sandy
• loamy
• muddy

Examples of earthy in a Sentence

a blend of earthy colors

The wine had an earthy flavor.

Critics were impressed by the movie's earthy realism.

food made with simple, earthy ingredients

Recent Examples on the Web

One Gamine fragrance, Heroic Dose, opens with fresh cypress, blue hemp, and salty marine air, but underneath lies an earthy, gritty complexity brought in by cumin and vetiver bourbon. — Parizaad Khan Sethi, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2026

Joybird’s Maurice sofa makes the cause for going beyond beige, with over 90 upholstery options that include everything from rich jewel tones to earthy greens. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026

In the film, Samantha Morton plays Circe as an earthy sorceress who doesn’t seek to bed Odysseus. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Gonçalves loves using green-gray paint in conjunction with warm whites and earthy wood tones in a small kitchen. — Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing earthy

• earthy-crunchy

Kids Definition

earthy

adjective

ˈər-thē  -t͟hē 

earthier; earthiest

1

: consisting of or resembling earth

an earthy flavor

2

a

: suggestive of plain or poor people or their ways : practical sense 4, down-to-earth

earthy problems of everyday life

b

: not polite : crude

earthy humor

earthiness noun