un·washed
ˌən-ˈwȯsht 
-ˈwäsht
1
: not cleaned with or as if with soap and water
a sink full of unwashed dishes
unwashedness
noun
old-fashioned + humorous
: 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
Christina Manian, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025
Sorry Lady Liberty – no unwashed masses need apply.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Picking up forks by their prongs with your fingers, especially if unwashed, can just cause the build up of germs and bacteria, negating some of the work your dishwasher just accomplished.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwashed
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
While this usually isn't a cause for concern, sharing drinks introduces additional bacteria, and touching the glass or straw with unwashed hands can introduce more.
—Christina Manian, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Dec. 2025
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025
Sorry Lady Liberty – no unwashed masses need apply.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Picking up forks by their prongs with your fingers, especially if unwashed, can just cause the build up of germs and bacteria, negating some of the work your dishwasher just accomplished.
—Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 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 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share