scum

1 of 2

noun

ˈskəm 

1

a

: extraneous matter or impurities risen to or formed on the surface of a liquid often as a foul filmy covering compare pond scum sense 2

b

: the scoria of metals in a molten state : dross

c

: a slimy film on a solid or gelatinous object

2

a

: refuse

b

: a low, vile, or worthless person or group of people

scummy

ˈskə-mē 

adjective

scum

2 of 2

verb

scummed; scumming

intransitive verb

: to become covered with or as if with scum

Synonyms

Noun

• proletariat
• rabble
• rabblement
• ragtag and bobtail
• riffraff
• rout
• tag, rag, and bobtail
• tagrag and bobtail
• trash
• unwashed

Examples of scum in a Sentence

Noun

Boil the chicken and use a spoon to remove any scum that floats to the surface.

claimed that only scum lived in that part of town

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Potatoes, onions, and fresh whitefish are all boiled together, and then a bunch of kerosene is thrown on the flame to make the kettle boil over and dump out all the scum from the fish that would otherwise remain on top of the mixture. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 May 2024

All this anti-Soviet scum, all this rabble revolves around Sakharov. —Gal Beckerman, Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2012

Verb

Lieberman is the scummiest scumbag who ever scummed. —Jim Newell, Slate Magazine, 18 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle Dutch schum; akin to Old High German scūm foam

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1661, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing scum

• pond scum
• scum of the earth

Kids Definition

scum

noun

ˈskəm

1

a

: matter that has risen to or formed on the surface of a liquid often as a slimy covering compare pond scum sense 2

b

: a film formed on a solid or gelatinous object

soap scum

2

: a loathsome or worthless person or group of people

scummy

ˈskəm-ē

adjective