Noun
We decided to pick up the litter in the park.
Her desk was covered with a litter of legal documents. Verb
Paper and popcorn littered the streets after the parade.
a desk littered with old letters and bills
It is illegal to litter.
He had to pay a fine for littering.
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Noun
Despite the litter washing up onto the beaches nearby, the lagoon itself appeared to be clinging on and the wildlife was flourishing.—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2025 The beneficial insects, like butterflies, moths, fireflies, and native bees, that pollinate your garden throughout the growing season require leaf litter to survive.—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
There are allegations toilets have been left uncleaned, bins unemptied, and pitch perimeters worn and littered, with complaints made that there are not enough maintenance staff employed to maintain standards.—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 Photos of the aftermath show toys and shoes littering the apartment hallways, evidence of those pulled from their beds by the operation that included FBI and Homeland Security agents.—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for litter
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French litere, from lit bed, from Latin lectus — more at lie
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