Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Not washed; unclean.
  • adjective Common; plebeian.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Not washed. Not cleansed by water; filthy; unclean: as, unwashed wool; hence, vulgar.
  • Not overflowed by water: as, a rock unwashed by the waves.
  • The unwashed, the great unwashed, the lower class of people. The latter phrase was first applied to the artisan class, but is now used to designate the lower classes generally—the mob, the rabble.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Not washed or cleansed; filthy; unclean.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective That has or have not been washed.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective of or associated with the great masses of people
  • adjective not cleaned with or as if with soap and water

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Sexually repressed white missionaries who stink in unwashed wool.

    Summer Reading 2006

  • Sexually repressed white missionaries who stink in unwashed wool.

    Summer Reading 2006

  • If the unwashed is into prose fantasy, chances are that person may have read one of Gaiman’s novels, and noting that Gaiman has also written a highly regarded, widely available comic book that covers many of his usual themes seems like one of the fairer conversion gambits out there.)

    18 « November « 2009 « The Manga Curmudgeon 2009

  • If the unwashed is into prose fantasy, chances are that person may have read one of Gaiman’s novels, and noting that Gaiman has also written a highly regarded, widely available comic book that covers many of his usual themes seems like one of the fairer conversion gambits out there.)

    Monkey business 2009

  • They see us as a bunch of traditional "unwashed" American idiots going about raping and destroying the land and "consuming" it's resources!

    Some Political Notes 2008

  • If only the great 'unwashed' knew half of what is reported here.

    Flashback: McCain Said That Rudy, His Chief National Security Surrogate, Had No National Security Experience 2009

  • It isn't must of an argument really, but sadly, it does seem to convince the 'unwashed'.

    The Argument From Incredulity James F. McGrath 2008

  • I would be interested in the reactions and thoughts of the participants in this class, While listening to theologians and teachers is interesting, I often look for how the "unwashed" perceive faith issues.

    When Christians Disagree: Introduction James F. McGrath 2008

  • This group of "unwashed" bloggers has completely changed the face of the debate.

    A different perspective 2006

  • I'm willing to bet I know more about the "unwashed" sport than you would believe.

    Monday Roundup ALW 2007

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