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

: not as good or quick as usual or as in the past because of lack of practice or use

3

a

: of the color rust

b

: dulled in color or appearance by age and use

rusty old boots

4

: outmoded

rusty jokes

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 of rusty

Adjective (1)

• archaic
• obsolete
• antiquated
• medieval
• old

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

The opener at Nottingham Forest was understandably rusty, but headed for a good 0-0 draw on the road until Anton Stach’s late free kick. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

The feathers on her back were of mottled sepia tones, and those on her belly were rusty brown and painterly white. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

This native tree is a deciduous conifer with feathery foliage that turns a beautiful rusty orange in fall. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026

He’s taken by the meditative musical vibrations, and he’s even framed against a glass window that appears to shimmer, as though the rusty gears of his mind and heart are forced to rotate and a power a bulb somewhere off screen. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

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