Soiled

Soiled is a standard English adjective used to describe something that is dirty or stained. It can refer to physical dirt on objects such as clothing, linens, or surfaces, as in a soiled shirt or a soiled countertop. The term is common in everyday speech as well as in laundry, cleaning, and manufacturing contexts.

Soiled can also function as the past participle and simple past tense form of the verb to soil, meaning to dirty or contaminate. In this sense, it describes the result of such action (the soiled item) and appears in phrases like soiled hands, soiled fabric, or a soiled reputation. Metaphorically, a person’s character or reputation may be described as soiled to indicate moral taint or breach of trust.

Usage notes: Soiled is typically used for dirt or contamination on objects and surfaces, and is common in housekeeping, laundry labeling, quality control, and safety contexts. It contrasts with clean or spotless, and can also be used metaphorically to denote reputational or ethical staining.