unclean
gb/ʌŋklˈin/ us/ʌŋklˈin/
B1
English
~ 8600
piszkos, koszos, szennyezett, fertőzött, tisztátalan, piszkos pénz, rituálisan tisztátalan
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is unclean
The bathroom was unclean and smelled bad, so we asked for another room.
A fürdőszoba piszkos volt és rossz szaga volt, ezért másik szobát kértünk.
Health inspectors closed the restaurant because of its unclean kitchen surfaces.
Az egészségügyi ellenőrök bezáratták az éttermet a piszkos konyhai felületek miatt.
His shirt looked unclean after working in the garden all afternoon.
They refused to drink from the unclean tap until it was fixed.
The cages were left unclean for days, which was cruel to the animals.
Learner examples
The floor is unclean and needs to be washed.
A padló koszos, fel kell mosni.
Her hands were unclean after she played in the mud.
A keze piszkos lett, miután a sárban játszott.
We threw away the unclean plates and used new ones.
The dog slept in an unclean bed full of hair.
Please do not wear those unclean shoes in the house.
Common mistake:
Learners often say "my room is unclean" in everyday speech. This is grammatically correct but sounds formal or unusual; native speakers more often say "my room is dirty" for normal situations.
Meaning
dirty; not clean
Collocations
unclean water
|unclean hands
|unclean kitchen
|unclean clothes
|left unclean
|visibly unclean
Synonyms
dirty (The most common everyday word; slightly less formal and more frequent than "unclean".)
|
filthy (Stronger than "unclean"; suggests something is very dirty and often disgusting.)
Antonyms
clean (Neutral, everyday opposite; free from dirt or mess.)
|
spotless (Stronger opposite; completely clean with no marks or dirt at all.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not clean; having dirt, mess, or stains on it.
Describing something that is dirty, messy, or not properly cleaned, especially because it has visible dirt, stains, or grime.
B2
2
szennyezett
B1
fertőzött
B2
Usage pattern:
[food / water / equipment] is unclean
The disease spread quickly because patients were treated with unclean needles.
A betegség gyorsan terjedt, mert a betegeket szennyezett tűkkel kezelték.
Many rural communities still rely on unclean drinking water sources.
Sok vidéki közösség még mindig szennyezett ivóvízforrásokra támaszkodik.
Inspectors found unclean medical equipment in the clinic and ordered immediate changes.
Workers complained about the unclean conditions in the factory bathrooms.
Eating unclean food from street vendors can lead to serious stomach infections.
Learner examples
The doctor said the wound got infected because the bandage was unclean.
Az orvos azt mondta, a seb azért fertőződött el, mert a kötés szennyezett volt.
People became sick after they drank unclean water from the river.
Az emberek megbetegedtek, miután szennyezett vizet ittak a folyóból.
The nurse threw away the unclean tools after the operation.
Do not reuse unclean needles in the hospital.
The animals live in unclean cages, so they often get sick.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "dirty" in health contexts (e.g., "dirty needles"). While understandable, professionals more often say "unclean," "unsanitary," or "contaminated" when talking about health risks.
Meaning
contaminated or unhygienic
Collocations
unclean drinking water
|unclean needles
|unclean medical equipment
|unclean food
|unclean conditions
Synonyms
unsanitary (Often used in health, medical, or official contexts; clearly focuses on risk to health.)
|
contaminated (Stresses that something has been made unsafe by harmful substances or germs.)
Antonyms
hygienic (Focuses on being clean in a way that protects health; the opposite of unclean in health contexts.)
|
sterile (Stronger and more technical; means completely free from germs or living microorganisms.)
Themes
health
|science
|environment
|food_drink
Definition
Not safe or healthy because it has germs or harmful things in it.
Describing something, especially food, water, tools, or conditions, that is contaminated or not hygienic and may cause illness or infection.
C1
FORMAL
3
tisztátalan
C1
piszkos pénz
B2
Usage pattern:
[thoughts / actions / money] are unclean
He claimed the politician's campaign was funded with unclean money.
Azt állította, hogy a politikus kampányát piszkos pénzből finanszírozták.
She struggled with what she called unclean thoughts and feelings of guilt.
Küzdött azzal, amit ő tisztátalan gondolatoknak nevezett, és bűntudata volt.
The pastor warned the community against unclean desires that could lead them astray.
The company tried to distance itself from the unclean business practices of its former partners.
In the novel, the hero returns home feeling unclean after years of corrupt dealings.
Learner examples
They said the money from the crime was unclean.
Azt mondták, a bűncselekményből származó pénz piszkos.
He prayed for forgiveness for his unclean thoughts.
Bocsánatért imádkozott a tisztátalan gondolatai miatt.
Some people see gambling as unclean behavior.
She did not want to take part in their unclean plans.
The leader was removed because of his unclean actions.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this moral sense with the physical sense and say things like "my mind is dirty" when they want a serious, religious tone. In formal or religious contexts, "unclean thoughts" or "impure thoughts" is more typical, while "dirty mind" sounds informal or humorous.
Meaning
morally impure or sinful
Collocations
unclean thoughts
|unclean desires
|unclean money
|spiritually unclean
|unclean motives
Synonyms
impure (Very close in meaning; often used in religious or moral contexts for thoughts or motives.)
|
corrupt (Stresses dishonesty and moral decay, especially in politics or business, more than general impurity.)
Antonyms
pure (Common opposite in moral or religious language; suggests innocence or moral cleanliness.)
|
virtuous (Highlights good moral behavior, not just the absence of impurity.)
Themes
morality
|religion
|emotions
|relationships
Definition
Morally bad or not pure, especially in a serious or religious way.
Describing thoughts, actions, money, or behavior that are considered morally impure, corrupt, or shameful, often with a religious or serious moral tone.
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[someone / something] is ritually unclean
Certain animals are labeled unclean in the dietary laws of the Old Testament.
Az Ószövetség étkezési törvényei szerint bizonyos állatokat rituálisan tisztátalannak tartanak.
Under the regulations, anyone who touched a dead body was considered unclean for seven days.
A szabályok szerint aki holttesthez ért, azt hét napig rituálisan tisztátalannak tekintették.
Some traditional communities still avoid unclean foods during religious festivals.
In the story, the leper lives outside the camp because he is unclean according to the law.
The priest declared the house unclean until a purification ritual was performed.
Learner examples
In that religion, pigs are called unclean animals.
Abban a vallásban a disznókat rituálisan tisztátalan állatoknak tartják.
A person who touched blood was unclean for a short time.
Aki vérhez ért, rövid ideig rituálisan tisztátalannak számított.
They could not enter the temple when they were unclean.
The book says some foods are unclean and must not be eaten.
After a ritual bath, he was no longer unclean.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "unclean" here just means "dirty." In religious laws, it is a special status, not only about visible dirt or germs.
Meaning
ritually or ceremonially impure
Collocations
ritually unclean
|ceremonially unclean
|unclean animals
|unclean foods
|declared unclean
Synonyms
impure (Used in religious texts, but less specific; may refer to general moral or ritual impurity.)
Antonyms
clean (In religious law, often the set term for animals or people who are allowed in rituals.)
|
pure (Stresses acceptable and holy status in a religious sense.)
Themes
religion
|culture
Definition
In some religions, not allowed in worship or holy places because of special religious rules about purity.
In certain religions, describing a person, animal, or object that is considered ritually impure according to religious laws, and therefore not allowed in worship, sacrifice, or other sacred practices until purified.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unclean
IPA
GB/ʌŋklˈin/
US/ʌŋklˈin/
Syllables & stress
un - clean (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (clean)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: unclean
Word family
Expressions
ceremonially unclean
1/sˈɛɹəməniəli ʌŋklˈin/
fixed phrase
technical
not pure for ceremonies
Not pure enough, by religious rules, to take part in special religious ceremonies.
Examples
- Under the old law, women were considered ceremonially unclean for a set period after childbirth.
- Because he was ceremonially unclean, he had to wait before offering his sacrifice.
have unclean hands
1/hˈæv ʌŋklˈin hˈændz/
idiom
formal
be morally compromised
To be involved in bad or dishonest actions, so you are not innocent in a situation.
Examples
- The judge said the company had unclean hands and could not claim to be the victim.
- Critics argue that both parties have unclean hands in this political scandal.
ritually unclean
1/ɹˈɪt͡ʃuəli ʌŋklˈin/
fixed phrase
technical
having ritual religious impurity
Not allowed to join some religious acts because of special religious rules about purity.
Examples
- Anyone who had recently handled a corpse was considered ritually unclean.
- The high priest could not enter the inner sanctuary while he was ritually unclean.