The difference between Dirty and Foul

When used as verbs, dirty means to make (something) dirty, whereas foul means to make dirty.

When used as adjectives, dirty means unclean, whereas foul means covered with, or containing unclean matter.


Dirty is also adverb with the meaning: in a dirty manner.

Foul is also noun with the meaning: a breach of the rules of a game, especially one involving inappropriate contact with an opposing player in order to gain an advantage.

check bellow for the other definitions of Dirty and Foul

  1. Dirty as an adjective:

    Unclean; covered with or containing unpleasant substances such as dirt or grime.

    Examples:

    "Despite a walk in the rain, my shoes weren't too dirty."

  2. Dirty as an adjective:

    That makes one unclean; corrupting, infecting.

    Examples:

    "Don't put that in your mouth, dear. It's dirty."

  3. Dirty as an adjective:

    Morally unclean; obscene or indecent, especially sexually.

    Examples:

    "At the reception, Uncle Nick got drunk and told dirty jokes to the bridesmaids."

  4. Dirty as an adjective:

    Dishonourable; violating accepted standards or rules.

    Examples:

    "He might have scored, but it was a dirty trick that won him the penalty."

  5. Dirty as an adjective:

    Corrupt, illegal, or improper.

    Examples:

    "I won't accept your dirty money!"

  6. Dirty as an adjective:

    Out of tune.

    Examples:

    "You need to tune that guitar: the G string sounds dirty."

  7. Dirty as an adjective:

    Of color, discolored by impurities.

    Examples:

    "The old flag was a dirty white."

  8. Dirty as an adjective (computing):

    Containing data needing to be written back to memory or disk.

    Examples:

    "Occasionally it reads the sector into a dirty buffer, which means it needs to sync the dirty buffer first."

  9. Dirty as an adjective (slang):

    Carrying illegal drugs among one's possessions or inside of one's bloodstream.

    Examples:

    "None of y'all get into my car if you're dirty."

  10. Dirty as an adjective (informal):

    Examples:

    "He lives in a dirty great mansion."

  11. Dirty as an adjective:

    Sleety; gusty; stormy.

    Examples:

    "'dirty weather"

  1. Dirty as an adverb:

    In a dirty manner.

    Examples:

    "to play dirty'"

  1. Dirty as a verb (transitive):

    To make (something) dirty.

  2. Dirty as a verb (transitive):

    To stain or tarnish (somebody) with dishonor.

  3. Dirty as a verb (transitive):

    To debase by distorting the real nature of (something).

  4. Dirty as a verb (intransitive):

    To become soiled.

  1. Foul as an adjective:

    Covered with, or containing unclean matter; dirty.

    Examples:

    "This cloth is too foul to use as a duster."

    "His foul hands got dirt all over the kitchen."

    "The air was so foul nobody could breathe."

    "A ship's bottom is foul when overgrown with barnacles"

    "A well is foul with polluted water."

  2. Foul as an adjective:

    obscene, vulgar or abusive.

    Examples:

    "The rascal spewed forth a series of foul words."

    "His foul language causes many people to believe he is uneducated."

  3. Foul as an adjective:

    Detestable, unpleasant, loathsome.

    Examples:

    "He has a foul set of friends."

  4. Foul as an adjective:

    Disgusting, repulsive; causing disgust.

    Examples:

    "This foul food is making me retch."

    "There was a foul smell coming from the toilet."

  5. Foul as an adjective (obsolete):

    Ugly; homely; poor.

  6. Foul as an adjective:

    Unpleasant, stormy or rainy.

    Examples:

    "Some foul weather is brewing."

  7. Foul as an adjective:

    Dishonest or not conforming to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc.

    Examples:

    "'Foul play is not suspected."

  8. Foul as an adjective (nautical):

    Entangled and therefore restricting free movement, not clear.

    Examples:

    "We've got a foul anchor."

    "a rope could get foul while paying it out."

  9. Foul as an adjective (baseball):

    Outside of the base lines; in foul territory.

    Examples:

    "Jones hit foul ball after foul ball."

  1. Foul as a verb (transitive):

    To make dirty.

    Examples:

    "to foul the face or hands with mire"

    "She's fouled her diaper."

  2. Foul as a verb (transitive):

    To besmirch.

    Examples:

    "He's fouled his reputation."

  3. Foul as a verb (transitive):

    To clog or obstruct.

    Examples:

    "The hair has fouled the drain."

  4. Foul as a verb (transitive, nautical):

    To entangle.

    Examples:

    "The kelp has fouled the prop."

  5. Foul as a verb (transitive, basketball):

    To make contact with an opposing player in order to gain advantage.

    Examples:

    "Smith fouled him hard."

  6. Foul as a verb (transitive, baseball):

    To hit outside of the baselines.

    Examples:

    "Jones fouled the ball off the facing of the upper deck."

  7. Foul as a verb (intransitive):

    To become clogged.

    Examples:

    "The drain fouled."

  8. Foul as a verb (intransitive):

    To become entangled.

    Examples:

    "The prop fouled on the kelp."

  9. Foul as a verb (intransitive, basketball):

    To commit a foul.

    Examples:

    "Smith fouled within the first minute of the quarter."

  10. Foul as a verb (intransitive, baseball):

    To hit a ball outside of the baselines.

    Examples:

    "Jones fouled for strike one."

  1. Foul as a noun (sports):

    A breach of the rules of a game, especially one involving inappropriate contact with an opposing player in order to gain an advantage; for example, tripping someone up in soccer, or contact of any kind in basketball.

  2. Foul as a noun (bowling):

    A (usually accidental) contact between a bowler and the lane before the bowler has released the ball.

  3. Foul as a noun (baseball):

    A foul ball, a ball which has been hit outside of the base lines.

    Examples:

    "Jones hit a foul up over the screen."