unclean
gb/ʌŋklˈin/ us/ʌŋklˈin/
B1
Inglês
~ 8600
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B1
property
1
dirty; not clean
Not clean; having dirt, mess, or stains on it.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is unclean
Erro comum:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
clean (Neutral, everyday opposite; free from dirt or mess.)
|
spotless (Stronger opposite; completely clean with no marks or dirt at all.)
Colocações
unclean water
|unclean hands
|unclean kitchen
|unclean clothes
|left unclean
|visibly unclean
Temas
daily life
|home
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Padrão de uso:
[food / water / equipment] is unclean
Erro comum:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocações
unclean drinking water
|unclean needles
|unclean medical equipment
|unclean food
|unclean conditions
Temas
health
|science
|environment
|food_drink
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Padrão de uso:
[thoughts / actions / money] are unclean
Erro comum:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
pure (Common opposite in moral or religious language; suggests innocence or moral cleanliness.)
|
virtuous (Highlights good moral behavior, not just the absence of impurity.)
Colocações
unclean thoughts
|unclean desires
|unclean money
|spiritually unclean
|unclean motives
Temas
morality
|religion
|emotions
|relationships
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Padrão de uso:
[someone / something] is ritually unclean
Erro comum:
Learners may think "unclean" here just means "dirty." In religious laws, it is a special status, not only about visible dirt or germs.
Sinónimos
impure (Used in religious texts, but less specific; may refer to general moral or ritual impurity.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocações
ritually unclean
|ceremonially unclean
|unclean animals
|unclean foods
|declared unclean
Temas
religion
|culture
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
unclean
IPA
GB/ʌŋklˈin/
US/ʌŋklˈin/
Sílabas e acento
un - clean (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (clean)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: unclean
Família de palavras
Expressões
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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.