dirty

Dirty is an adjective describing something that is unclean or contaminated with dirt or grime. It can refer to physical impurity on surfaces, clothing, or objects, and may indicate staining or accumulation of matter.

In moral or ethical senses, dirty is used metaphorically to describe corruption or illicit behavior. Phrases include dirty politics, dirty tricks, dirty business, and dirty money for funds earned through illegal or unethical means. A dirty joke or humor is often considered offensive or in poor taste.

In data and computing, dirty describes data or state that has not been cleaned or saved; dirty data can contain errors, duplicates, or missing values. A dirty flag in software marks modified data that requires saving or revalidation. A dirty bomb refers to a conventional explosive that disperses radioactive material, used to create contamination rather than a high-explosive effect.

In everyday language, dirt commonly refers to soil or earth. The distinction between dirt and soil can depend on context: dirt is often used for soil that has been displaced or sullied, while soil denotes the material in the ground. Hygiene and public health emphasize cleaning to reduce dirt and microbial contamination on surfaces and objects.

See also: dirt, soil.