rustier; rustiest
1
: affected by or as if by rust
especially : stiff with or as if with rust
2
: inept and slow through lack of practice or old age
3
a
: of the color rust
b
: dulled in color or appearance by age and use
rusty old boots
4
5
rustily adverb
rustiness noun

rusty

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rus·​ty ˈrə-stē How to pronounce rusty (audio)
rustier; rustiest
chiefly dialectal

Examples of rusty in a Sentence

Adjective (1) rusty laws still on the books because no one bothered to repeal them in a rusty voice the old man ordered us off his land
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.
Adjective
Jones too deemed his performance a bit rusty due to his last game being Dec. 31. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025 In addition to a $70,000 fine, they will be beaten with a rusty bat and have the tips of their fingers chopped off. Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2025 Pigeons had taken up residence on the crumbling walls, and there was a rusty car sitting in the overgrown garden. Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 25 Jan. 2025 Not only did Fletcher maintain his standing as League One’s deadliest striker on goals-per-minutes, but Jack Marriott also made a welcome, if rather rusty, return to action after breaking his leg in mid-October. Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for rusty 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (2)

alteration of restive

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1694, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rusty was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near rusty

Cite this Entry

“Rusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rusty. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

rusty

adjective
ˈrəs-tē
rustier; rustiest
1
: affected by or as if by rust
2
: less skilled and slow through lack of practice or old age
3
: of the color rust
rustily
-tə-lē
adverb
rustiness
-tē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rusty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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