1
: things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown out : trash
Please, pick the rubbish up off the ground.
(Brit) We saw a rat run through the rubbish tip/dump. [=(US) garbage dump; an area of land where people can dump their rubbish]
(chiefly Brit) Put the potato peels in the rubbish bin. [=(US) garbage can, (chiefly US) trash can]
2
chiefly British, informal
: words or ideas that are foolish or untrue
I think what he says is absolute rubbish!
That's (a load of) rubbish! I didn't cheat on the test.
"I'm sorry, but I had to do it." "Rubbish!"
3
informal
: something that is worthless, unimportant, or of poor quality
The food at that restaurant is complete rubbish.
I can't believe you waste your time reading that rubbish. [=garbage]
rubbishes; rubbished; rubbishing
British, informal
: to severely criticize (someone or something)
The critics rubbished [=(US) trashed] her new book.
Cite this Entry
“Rubbish.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/rubbish. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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