unclean
gb/ʌŋklˈin/ us/ʌŋklˈin/
B1
English
~ 8600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
dirty; not clean
Not clean; having dirt, mess, or stains on it.
Usage pattern:
[something] is unclean
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.
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.)
Collocations
unclean water
|unclean hands
|unclean kitchen
|unclean clothes
|left unclean
|visibly unclean
Themes
daily life
|home
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The bathroom was unclean and smelled bad, so we asked for another room.
- Health inspectors closed the restaurant because of its unclean kitchen surfaces.
- 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.
- Her hands were unclean after she played in the mud.
- 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.
unknown
B2
property
2
contaminated or unhygienic
Not safe or healthy because it has germs or harmful things in it.
Usage pattern:
[food / water / equipment] is unclean
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.
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.)
Collocations
unclean drinking water
|unclean needles
|unclean medical equipment
|unclean food
|unclean conditions
Themes
health
|science
|environment
|food_drink
Examples
- The disease spread quickly because patients were treated with unclean needles.
- Many rural communities still rely on unclean drinking water sources.
- 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.
- People became sick after they drank unclean water from the river.
- 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.
adjective
formal
C1
property
3
morally impure or sinful
Morally bad or not pure, especially in a serious or religious way.
Usage pattern:
[thoughts / actions / money] are unclean
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.
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.)
Collocations
unclean thoughts
|unclean desires
|unclean money
|spiritually unclean
|unclean motives
Themes
morality
|religion
|emotions
|relationships
Examples
- He claimed the politician's campaign was funded with unclean money.
- She struggled with what she called unclean thoughts and feelings of guilt.
- 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.
- He prayed for forgiveness for his unclean thoughts.
- 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.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
ritually or ceremonially impure
In some religions, not allowed in worship or holy places because of special religious rules about purity.
Usage pattern:
[someone / something] is ritually 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.
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.)
Collocations
ritually unclean
|ceremonially unclean
|unclean animals
|unclean foods
|declared unclean
Themes
religion
|culture
Examples
- Certain animals are labeled unclean in the dietary laws of the Old Testament.
- Under the regulations, anyone who touched a dead body was considered unclean for seven days.
- 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.
- A person who touched blood was unclean for a short time.
- 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.
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.