rusty

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈrə-stē 

rustier; rustiest

1

: affected by or as if by rust

especially : stiff with or as if with rust

2

: inept and slow through lack of practice or old age

3

a

: of the color rust

b

: dulled in color or appearance by age and use

rusty old boots

4

: outmoded

5

: hoarse, grating

rustily

ˈrə-stə-lē 

adverb

rustiness

ˈrə-stē-nəs 

noun

rusty

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rus·​ty ˈrə-stē 

rustier; rustiest

chiefly dialectal

: ill-natured, surly

Synonyms

Adjective (1)

• archaic
• antiquated
• obsolete
• medieval
• old
• prehistoric

Examples of rusty in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

rusty laws still on the books because no one bothered to repeal them

in a rusty voice the old man ordered us off his land

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This helps protect the nonstick surface, further fighting the risk of rusty cast iron. —Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025

Lipkin didn’t look very enthused about fighting, but Landeskog certainly didn’t look rusty with that part of his game. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025

The blooms usually have golden-yellow and rusty-red bicolored petals around a dark center eye. —Mackenzie Nichols, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025

So far, brown bears are loving the carp, sea lions are tentatively enjoying the goldfish, and North American river otters have sampled goldfish and rusty crayfish. —Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (2)

alteration of restive

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1694, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rusty

• crusty
• dusty
• gusty
• lusty
• musty
• trusty

Kids Definition

rusty

adjective

ˈrəs-tē

rustier; rustiest

1

: affected by or as if by rust

2

: less skilled and slow through lack of practice or old age

3

: of the color rust

rustily

-tə-lē

adverb

rustiness

-tē-nəs

noun