: an ignorant or underprivileged group : rabble
—usually used with great
the great unwashed
Examples of unwashed in a Sentence
Adjective
a sink full of unwashed dishes
a TV producer who knew what the unwashed masses wanted—and unhesitatingly gave it to them
Noun
Aunt Edna was fond of snootily reminding us that we need not take our manners from the great unwashed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Geoffrey Morrison, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
The restaurant was in violation of 12 standards, including unwashed fruit and food stored on the floor.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2025
Bacteria on the outside of unwashed produce can transfer to the edible parts when peeled or sliced.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
For their efforts, the scientists found that ice has a much harder time sticking to unwashed, greasy polar bear hair than to oily human hair.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwashed
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Adjective
Understandably, it’s gated off for us, the unwashed masses.
—Geoffrey Morrison, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
The restaurant was in violation of 12 standards, including unwashed fruit and food stored on the floor.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2025
Bacteria on the outside of unwashed produce can transfer to the edible parts when peeled or sliced.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
For their efforts, the scientists found that ice has a much harder time sticking to unwashed, greasy polar bear hair than to oily human hair.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwashed
Cite this Entry
“Unwashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwashed. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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