unclean

Unclean is an adjective used to describe the lack of cleanliness or purity in a physical, cultural, or moral sense. It may refer to objects, surfaces, or substances that are dirty or contaminated, as well as to conditions deemed impure within a particular social or religious framework. In everyday language, unclean often implies unsanitary conditions that may affect health, comfort, or safety.

Historically and culturally, concepts of cleanliness and uncleanliness extend beyond the physical. Many traditions distinguish between what is clean and unclean for ritual or symbolic reasons, and individuals or items may be considered unclean until they undergo purification or cleansing rites. The specifics of what renders something unclean, and how it is remedied, vary widely across societies and time periods.

Etymology: the word derives from the prefix un- meaning "not" and the adjective clean. It appears in Old English and has cognates in other Germanic languages, reflecting a long-standing dichotomy between purity and impurity in the language.

In modern usage, unclean is often used as a general descriptor for dirtiness or contamination, but more precise terms—such as dirty, contaminated, unhygienic, or impure—are common in everyday speech and professional contexts. In health and sanitation discourse, the concept is framed in measurable terms, including cleanliness standards, sterilization, and contamination control.

See also: cleanliness, ritual purity, contamination.

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