rubbish

noun

rub·​bish ˈrə-bish How to pronounce rubbish (audio)
 dialectal  -bij
1
: useless waste or rejected matter : trash
2
: something that is worthless or nonsensical
few real masterpieces are forgotten and not much rubbish survivesWilliam Bridges-Adams
rubbishy adjective

Examples of rubbish in a Sentence

Please, pick the rubbish up off the ground. I think what he says is absolute rubbish! “I'm sorry, but I had to do it.” “Rubbish!” The food at that restaurant is complete rubbish.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Go Disposable Gone are the days when disposable cups, plates, and utensils were synonymous with landfill rubbish. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2024 Johnson: There’s so much rubbish talked about this. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 Collins was mortified; the conga player was rubbish. Ryan Craig, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 Seven-year-old Maria and her mother live in their own loving but surreal world built on sorting through bins and collecting shiny rubbish into an overflowing house. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rubbish 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English robous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rubbish was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rubbish

Cite this Entry

“Rubbish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubbish. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rubbish

noun
rub·​bish ˈrəb-ish How to pronounce rubbish (audio)
: useless waste or stuff that has been thrown away : trash
rubbishy adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on rubbish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!