unhygienic

adjective

un·​hy·​gien·​ic

ˌən-ˌhī-ˈjē-nik, 

-ˈje- 

also

-jē-ˈe-nik 

: not having or showing good hygiene : not hygienic : unsanitary

squalid, unhygienic conditions

Examples of unhygienic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The spa In Germany, it is considered unhygienic to wear swimming costumes in the sauna and steam, and there’s a relaxed nudity in the chill-out areas around the Finnish sauna and hamman, the ice baths, and the ice waterfall. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2026

Even if the previous room occupants have been on the up and up, time and neglect can lead to unhygienic and potentially unsafe situations. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 22 Feb. 2026

Pet Supplies Storing any sort of pet items like food, litter boxes, or toys in your bedroom closet can be unhygienic. —Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025

Investigators uncovered more than 190 decomposing bodies last year inside the Penrose facility, many stored in unhygienic conditions. —Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unhygienic

• muscarinic
• neutropenic
• nicotinic
• acetylenic
• enoch
• scenic
• hygienic
• thrombocytopenic

Medical Definition

unhygienic

adjective

un·​hy·​gi·​en·​ic ˌən-ˌhī-jē-ˈen-ik, -ˈjen-, -ˈjēn- 

: not healthful or sanitary

unhygienic conditions

unhygienic habits

unhygienically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb