Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

great unwashed

/ˌɡɹeɪt ʌnˈwɔːʃt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.72 in modern English

Syllables: great un-washed
IPA: /ˌɡɹeɪt ʌnˈwɔːʃt/

21

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The general populace, particularly the working class.

Derogatory

Example Sentences

"[T]he gentlemen of the inns of court, and the gentlemen of the universities… live in abodes which were erected long before the custom of cleanliness and decency obtained among us. … Gentlemen, there can be but little doubt that your ancestors were the Great Unwashed: and in the Temple especially, it is pretty certain, that only under the greatest difficulties and restrictions the virtue which has been pronounced to be next to godliness could have been practised at all."
"The Liberal campaign was so carefully orchestrated that McLeod was never in a position to be confronted by the great unwashed. Unfortunately, the great unwashed rarely vote for a leader whom they have never met."

Etymology

Though attributed by many to Edmund Burke, the first published use of the phrase was by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in a dedicatory epistle for 1830, Paul Clifford.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌɡɹeɪt ʌnˈwɔːʃt/
British English: /ˌɡɹeɪt ʌnˈwɒʃt/

Usage

Derogatory

Synonyms

hoi polloi unwashed masses great unhosed canaille commonality commonalty crowd commonage demos everyone general public great unwashed

Questions

How do you pronounce great unwashed?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌɡɹeɪt ʌnˈwɔːʃt/.
What does great unwashed mean?: The general populace, particularly the working class.
Where does great unwashed come from?: Though attributed by many to Edmund Burke, the first published use of the phrase was by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in a dedicatory epistle for 1830, Paul Clifford.

How to pronounce great unwashed

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