Meaning & use

rusty

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

Covered with rust, or, figuratively, having lost skill through lack of practice.

See it in a sentence

The old gate's hinges were rusty and creaked loudly.

His French was rusty after years of not speaking it.

A note on using this word

The figurative meaning, describing weakened skills, is extremely common and doesn't require anything literally metal or oxidized.

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