Word forms: comparative rustier, superlative rustiest
1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A rusty metal object such as a car or a machine is covered with rust, which is a brown substance that forms on iron or steel when it comes into contact with water.
We spent years travelling around in a rusty old van.
...a rusty iron gate.
Synonyms: corroded, rusted, oxidized, rust-covered More Synonyms of rusty
2. adjective
If a skill that you have or your knowledge of something is rusty, it is not as good as it used to be, because you have not used it for a long time.
...skills which have gone rusty since the previous winter.
You may be a little rusty, but past experience and teaching skills won't have beenlost.
3. adjective
Rusty is sometimes used to describe things that are reddish-brown in colour.
Her hair was rusty brown.
Synonyms: reddish-brown, chestnut, reddish, russet More Synonyms of rusty
More Synonyms of rusty
rusty in British English
(ˈrʌstɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: rustier or rustiest
1.
covered with, affected by, or consisting of rust
a rusty machine
a rusty deposit
2.
of the colour rust
3.
discoloured by age
a rusty coat
4.
(of the voice) tending to croak
5.
old-fashioned in appearance; seemingly antiquated
a rusty old gentleman
6.
out of practice; impaired in skill or knowledge by inaction or neglect
7.
(of plants) affected by the rust fungus
Derived forms
rustily (ˈrustily)
adverb
rustiness (ˈrustiness)
noun
rusty in American English
(ˈrʌsti)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈrustier or ˈrustiest
1.
coated with rust, as a metal, or affected with the disease of rust, as a plant
2.
consisting of or caused by rust
3.
not working freely, easily, or quietly because of, or as if because of, rust; stiff or rasping in operation
4.
a.
impaired by disuse, neglect, etc.
to find one's golf game rusty
b.
having lost facility through lack of practice
to be a little rusty in chess
5.
having the color of rust
6.
faded, old-looking, or shabby
Derived forms
rustily (ˈrustily)
adverb
rustiness (ˈrustiness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE rustig
Examples of 'rusty' in a sentence
rusty
For climbing structures, seek out rusty metal poles or sleek stainless steel.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That van was a rusty old thing but the fridge was something of wonder.
The Sun (2012)
Rusty metal staircases are patrolled by prison wardens.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So he too is reliant on rusty stage skills.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We were a bit rusty in the first half.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The first race is always going to be a bit rusty.
The Sun (2012)
Naturally he was a bit rusty and short of match practice.
The Sun (2008)
Zoo chiefs threw in the rusty old banger to highlight the menace of pollution to animals in the wild.
The Sun (2009)
Rusty old tin sheets are nailed on to the roof or the sides of buildings to give them a slapdash appearance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We went into the game with just one friendly behind us so it was understandable that we were a bit rusty.
The Sun (2006)
It has grey upper parts and barring below; some females are rusty brown.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He was also in good humour, mocking his rusty memory about old lyrics and song arrangements.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You're better not to stop it because you get a bit rusty.
The Sun (2016)
If he takes too much time off, then he could lose out through being a little rusty.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The cell was lit by a weak bulb above the door, imprisoned in its own rusty metal cage.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I think we all showed some good signs but were a little rusty and struggled with our lengths.
The Sun (2013)
Why does metal get rusty?
The Sun (2014)
I might have been a little rusty, but practice soon oiled the mechanism back into shape.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I hadn't played for five weeks and was bound to be a little rusty.
The Sun (2006)
I've only had three knocks here so far and maybe felt a little rusty.
The Sun (2014)
A new plastic sink and an old, rusty medicine cabinet.
Christianity Today (2000)
You may be a little rusty, but past experience and teaching skills won't have been lost.
Shapiro, Jean Get the Best out of the Rest of Your Life (1990)
In other languages
rusty
British English: rusty /ˈrʌstɪ/ ADJECTIVE
A rusty metal object has a lot of rust on it.
...a rusty old van.
American English: rusty
Arabic: صَدِئ
Brazilian Portuguese: enferrujado
Chinese: 生锈的
Croatian: zahrđao
Czech: zrezivělý
Danish: rusten
Dutch: roestig
European Spanish: oxidado
Finnish: ruosteinen
French: rouillé
German: rostig
Greek: σκουριασμένος
Italian: arrugginito
Japanese: さびた
Korean: 녹슨
Norwegian: rusten
Polish: zardzewiały
European Portuguese: enferrujado
Romanian: ruginit
Russian: ржавый
Latin American Spanish: oxidado
Swedish: rostig
Thai: ที่เป็นสนิม
Turkish: paslı
Ukrainian: іржавий
Vietnamese: han rỉ
Chinese translation of 'rusty'
rusty
(ˈrʌstɪ)
adj
[surface, object]生锈(鏽)的 (shēngxiù de)
[skill]荒疏的 (huāngshū de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
affected by rust
travelling around in a rusty old van
Synonyms
corroded
rusted
oxidized
rust-covered
2 (adjective)
Definition
out of practice in a skill or subject
Your French is a bit rusty.
Synonyms
out of practice
`How's your German?' - `Not bad, but I'm out of practice.'
weak
His eyesight had always been weak.
impaired
sluggish
stale
deficient
deficient landing systems
not what it was
unpractised
3 (adjective)
Definition
reddish-brown
Her hair was rusty brown.
Synonyms
reddish-brown
chestnut
reddish
russet
coppery
rust-coloured
4 (adjective)
his mild, rusty voice
Synonyms
croaking
cracked
creaking
hoarse
Nick's voice was hoarse with screaming.
croaky
5 (adjective)
Synonyms
old-fashioned
She always wears such boring, old-fashioned clothes.
ancient
He produced articles and stories on his ancient typewriter.
antique
Their aim is to break taboos and change antique laws.
dated
They wore dated clothes.
out of date
processes using out-of-date technology and very old equipment
antiquated
The factory is so antiquated, it isn't worth saving.
outmoded
People in positions of power continue to promote outmoded ideas.
passé
That sort of music is passé now.
see also subject word lists:
See Shades of red
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ancient
He produced articles and stories on his ancient typewriter.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
past,
dated,
outdated,
obsolete,
out of date,
old-time,
archaic,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
musty,
old hat,
behind the times,
fusty,
superannuated,
out of style,
obsolescent,
square (informal),
cobwebby,
démodé,
out of the ark (informal),
oldfangled,
(old-)fogeyish
in the sense of antiquated
Definition
obsolete or old-fashioned
The factory is so antiquated, it isn't worth saving.
Synonyms
obsolete,
old,
aged,
ancient,
antique,
old-fashioned,
elderly,
dated,
past it (informal),
out-of-date,
archaic,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
hoary,
superannuated,
antediluvian,
outworn,
cobwebby,
old as the hills
in the sense of antique
Definition
old-fashioned
Their aim is to break taboos and change antique laws.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
old,
aged,
ancient,
remote,
elderly,
primitive,
outdated,
obsolete,
archaic,
bygone,
primordial,
primeval,
immemorial,
superannuated
Nearby words of
rusty
rustic
rustle
rustle something up
rusty
rut
ruthless
rutted
Synonyms of 'rusty'
rusty
Explore 'rusty' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dated
Definition
unfashionable
They wore dated clothes.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
outdated,
out of date,
obsolete,
archaic,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
out,
old hat,
unhip (slang),
untrendy (British, informal),
démodé,
out of the ark (informal)
in the sense of deficient
Definition
inadequate in quantity or quality
deficient landing systems
Synonyms
unsatisfactory,
poor,
inadequate,
weak,
flawed,
inferior,
impaired,
faulty,
incomplete,
unsuitable,
defective,
imperfect,
unworthy
in the sense of hoarse
Definition
(of a voice) rough and unclear through illness or too much shouting
Nick's voice was hoarse with screaming.
Synonyms
rough,
harsh,
husky,
grating,
growling,
raucous,
rasping,
gruff,
throaty,
gravelly,
guttural,
croaky
in the sense of out of date
processes using out-of-date technology and very old equipment
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
ancient,
dated,
discarded,
extinct,
outdated,
stale,
obsolete,
démodé,
archaic,
unfashionable,
superseded,
antiquated,
outmoded,
passé,
old hat,
behind the times,
superannuated,
out of style,
outworn,
obsolescent,
out of the ark (informal),
oldfangled
in the sense of outmoded
Definition
no longer fashionable or accepted
People in positions of power continue to promote outmoded ideas.
Synonyms
old-fashioned,
passé,
dated,
out,
dead,
square (informal),
ancient,
antique,
outdated,
obsolete,
out-of-date,
old-time,
archaic,
unfashionable,
superseded,
bygone,
antiquated,
anachronistic,
olden (archaic),
behind the times,
superannuated,
fossilized,
out of style,
antediluvian,
outworn,
obsolescent,
unhip (slang),
démodé,
out of the ark (informal),
not with it (informal),
oldfangled
in the sense of passé
Definition
out-of-date
That sort of music is passé now.
Synonyms
out-of-date,
old-fashioned,
dated,
outdated,
obsolete,
unfashionable,
antiquated,
outmoded,
old hat,
outworn,
unhip (slang),
démodé
in the sense of weak
Definition
(of a part of the body) not functioning as well as is normal