great unwashed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 - Very low frequency; literary/archaic.Literary, historical, journalistic, pejorative, formal (but with informal connotations).
Quick answer
What does “great unwashed” mean?
The ordinary people, the common masses (often used with a slightly derogatory or condescending tone).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ordinary people, the common masses (often used with a slightly derogatory or condescending tone).
A term for the working class, the general populace, or those considered uncultured by a perceived elite; implies a lack of sophistication, education, or refinement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More historically rooted in British class discourse. American usage is rarer and often in conscious reference to British contexts or in historical/journalistic prose.
Connotations
UK: Strong historical class connotations, potentially more recognisable. US: May sound more deliberately literary or archaic.
Frequency
Extremely low in both, but marginally higher in UK due to historical prevalence in class commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “great unwashed” in a Sentence
[Definite Article] + great unwashed + [Verb Phrase]For + the great unwashedOf + the great unwashedVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used; inappropriate and offensive in modern professional contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary analysis to discuss class language and attitudes.
Everyday
Extremely rare. If used, it would be jocular or sarcastic among friends aware of its meaning.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great unwashed”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great unwashed”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great unwashed”
- Using it without 'the' (e.g., 'a great unwashed').
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'He is a great unwashed').
- Using it in a modern, non-ironic positive context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, inherently. It is a class-based pejorative implying the masses are dirty and uncultured. Modern use is almost always historical, ironic, or critical of such attitudes.
No. It always carries a derogatory or condescending nuance. Use 'the general public' or 'the masses' for a neutral tone.
It originated in the early 19th century (first recorded use 1830s) as a term of contempt used by the educated upper classes towards the poor, who often had limited access to bathing facilities.
No, it is archaic. You will encounter it primarily in historical texts, period dramas, or in modern writing that is deliberately invoking an archaic or satirical tone.
The ordinary people, the common masses (often used with a slightly derogatory or condescending tone).
Great unwashed is usually literary, historical, journalistic, pejorative, formal (but with informal connotations). in register.
Great unwashed: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ʌnˈwɒʃt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ʌnˈwɑːʃt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No direct idioms, but the phrase itself is idiomatic.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 19th-century aristocrat holding a perfumed handkerchief to his nose, looking down from his balcony at the 'great unwashed' crowd in the street below.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL CLASS IS CLEANLINESS (the lower class is physically dirty/unsanitary).
Practice
Quiz
The phrase 'the great unwashed' is most likely to be found in which type of text?