rusty

Rusty is an English adjective primarily used to describe something that has rusted or is covered in rust, typically iron oxide formed when iron or steel reacts with moisture and oxygen. The rusting process can weaken metal and produces a reddish-brown to orange-brown coloration. The term also extends to the color itself, with rusty described as a warm, earthy shade often used in design and fashion.

Beyond its literal sense, rusty is widely used figuratively to denote a decline in skill, memory, or ease of performance after a period of inactivity. A person who has not practiced a sport or instrument for a long time may say they are rusty, meaning their ability is not as sharp as it once was. The idiom can apply to techniques, routines, or other learned abilities.

In botany and plant pathology, rust refers to a group of fungal diseases that affect plants. While “rust” is the technical term for the disease, the adjective rusty may be used descriptively to convey a rusty or rust-colored appearance on leaves or stems affected by the infection.

The word can appear in various proper names and titles, but in ordinary use it remains a straightforward descriptor of metal condition, color, or proficiency. See also rust, rust color, oxidation, rust disease.