unclean

adjective

un·​clean ˌən-ˈklēn 

1

: dirty, filthy

2

: morally or spiritually impure

3

: infected with a harmful supernatural contagion

also : prohibited by ritual law for use or contact

4

: lacking in clarity and precision of conception or execution

uncleanness

ˌən-ˈklēn-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of unclean

• corrupt
• sick
• degraded

Examples of unclean in a Sentence

Many of their health problems were caused by unclean living conditions.

there's something unclean about this whole business

Recent Examples on the Web

The facility had an unclean can opener. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado april 10, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026

Among the workers polled, 36.5 percent said water, when available, often runs out or is unclean. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026

Last September, state Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, citing filthy conditions, broken toilets, vermin, unclean water and other issues. —Staff Report, Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026

Navarro explains that this is most likely because people commonly touch their spice jars with unclean hands after handling raw meat and don’t sanitize the containers after the fact. —Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for unclean

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

unclean

adjective

un·​clean ˌən-ˈklēn 

1

: not pure and innocent : wicked

2

: prohibited by religious law for use or contact

3

: dirty entry 1 sense 1, filthy

uncleanness

-ˈklēn-nəs 

noun