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

Over the course of its nearly 1 hour of totality, the moon will change to deep shades of rusty red, creating a breathtaking sight in the night sky. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

During totality, a close-up will reveal the moon’s maria darken as the entire lunar surface takes on rusty, crimson and pinkish tones. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026

Bobrovsky’s strong night Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky did not look rusty after weeks off for the Olympics. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026

While the wives did the dishes, the men strung tin cans on a line around the tent and piled up scraps of rusty iron so the bears could not approach without alerting us. —Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 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