Trashy

ˈtræʃi

adjectivemedium📊CommonArts
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Lacking in quality; cheap; tawdry; of poor taste.

ˈtræʃi

adjectivenegativemedium
Arts

Of poor quality or taste; cheap and gaudy.

The magazine was full of trashy gossip about celebrities.

💡 Simply: Imagine a really cheap, poorly-made toy or a TV show that's full of drama and not very smart. That's trashy! It's like something you wouldn't brag about.

👶 For kids: Something trashy is like garbage - not very good or fancy.

More Examples

2

He thought the novel was trashy, filled with clichés and predictable plot twists.

3

The interior of the diner had a deliberately trashy aesthetic.

How It's Used

Fashion

"She bought some trashy jewelry at the flea market."

Entertainment

"The movie was considered a trashy B-movie."

2

Filled with trash; resembling trash.

ˈtræʃi

adjectivenegativemedium
General

Characterized by or relating to trash; associated with or caused by garbage.

The alley was looking a little trashy after the garbage truck's rounds.

💡 Simply: Imagine a place that's full of garbage and litter. That place is trashy. It's not clean or neat.

👶 For kids: It's when something has too much garbage around.

More Examples

2

The festival left a trashy mess behind.

How It's Used

Environmental

"The beach was left looking trashy after the festival."

Tip:If something looks like trash, or is full of trash, it's trashy.

From 'trash' + '-y'. 'Trash' itself derives from Middle English 'trasche', of uncertain origin, but possibly related to Old Norse 'tros' (brushwood).

The term 'trashy' has been used since the late 19th century, primarily to denote something of poor quality, similar to the quality of actual trash.

Memory tip

Think of actual trash – it’s low quality and often unwanted.

Word Origin

LanguageMiddle English
Original meaning

"worthless, of little value"

trashy movietrashy magazinetrashy noveltrashy jewelrytrashy aesthetic

Common misspellings

trashitrashie

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written