Grotty

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Grotty

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective

Pronunciation

GROT-ee  /ˈɡrɒti/

Definition

(British informal) Unpleasant, dirty, or of poor quality; feeling ill or unwell.

Plain meaning

Grotty is a British informal word for something that is unpleasant, dirty, or shabby — a grotty flat, a grotty day, feeling grotty when you're under the weather.

Register

Informal and distinctly British. Grotty is not used in formal or professional writing. It is warmer and more humorous than dirty or unpleasant — it implies mild dissatisfaction rather than serious objection. It is particularly associated with British English and is not widely used in American English.