earthy

1 of 2

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

earthiness

2 of 2

noun

earth·​i·​ness

-thēnə̇s, 

-thin- sometimes -t͟h-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being earthy: such as

a

: a realistic or matter-of-fact or human quality (as of a literary or dramatic production)

b

: an anomalous or off flavor (as of wines or certain foods) suggestive of soil

Synonyms of earthy

Adjective

• sandy
• loamy
• muddy

Examples of earthy in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

The critic, who eschewed exclamation points like most good writers do, was swayed by an earthy wild mushroom and gorgonzola pie. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Oh My These earthy colors will be the main event this season. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 18 Sep. 2026

Onion, fresh ginger, and a generous amount of curry powder give the soup a gorgeous golden hue in addition to a warm, earthy depth. — Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026

The royal’s past trips to Scotland and Ireland have been a showcase for her muted autumnal style with an earthy edge. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English erthynesse, from erthy earthy + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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