garbage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "garbage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to waste material or to describe something as worthless or of poor quality. Example: "The report was filled with errors and inaccuracies; it was complete garbage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On Tuesday, the Guardian reported a further complaint made against the lieutenant in September 2013 by Andrew McAleer, the husband of Rice's former partner Karyn McAleer, who alleged he witnessed Rice holding Karyn's stolen mail and attempting to throw it into a public garbage can.

The Guardian

He enjoyed the debate elicited by his De Burgh "echo jam": "Some called it complete garbage, others said it changed their life.

The Guardian - Music

The error was minor, but 20 pages had to be consigned to the garbage bin.

The Guardian

With the knowledge of the police, Young OG instructed Head to place any gun he could find in a garbage can behind Young OG's grandmother's house.

The Guardian

In fact at one point at Zuccotti Park there was a giant plastic garbage bag that had $800,000 in it.

The Guardian - Books

At 60 years of age, Claude became a garbage collector, earning $26,000 a year, with some benefits and no retirement in sight.

The Guardian - Opinion

While some may long for the muted sensory world of winter – the hushed din and dulled scents of a blanketed metropolis – the city's signature, ebullient blaring tends to correlate with a welcome uptick in the mercury, summer street garbage be damned.

The Guardian - Opinion

One of the buildings' common areas has a pile of litter; a resident who's showing me around says, "People here have lived amidst garbage.

The Guardian

Mayors develop job programmes, build affordable housing, catalyse pre-school education and ensure the garbage gets picked up.

The Guardian

A Number 10 source denied this, while Better Together said the report was "total garbage".

The Guardian

Later in the day, incensed officials and police came to the colony, and this ultimately led to the municipality beginning regular garbage collection.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "garbage collection" when referencing memory management in computer programming.

Common error

While "garbage" is widely understood, it can sound informal in certain professional or academic settings. Opt for terms like "waste products" or "refuse" to maintain a more formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "garbage" functions primarily as a noun, referring to waste material. It can also function as an adjective, as seen in the phrase "garbage collection". Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "garbage" is a common noun used to describe waste or refuse. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral, more formal alternatives like "waste" or "refuse" may be preferable in certain academic or professional settings. The phrase can also be used figuratively to describe something of poor quality or nonsense. Related phrases include "trash", "rubbish", and "waste", each with slight differences in connotation and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trash

A more common and general term for discarded items; often used interchangeably but can sometimes imply less organic waste.

rubbish

A British English equivalent of "trash" or "garbage"; suitable for use when a British English flavor is desired.

waste

A broader term referring to any unwanted or unusable material; encompasses both physical and non-physical forms of waste.

refuse

A more formal term for "garbage" or "trash"; often used in official or technical contexts.

litter

Waste that is improperly disposed of in public places; emphasizes the act of discarding waste irresponsibly.

junk

Unwanted items that have little or no value; implies a collection of miscellaneous, often useless, objects.

scrap

Discarded material that may still have some value or be suitable for recycling; often refers to metal or fabric remnants.

debris

Scattered fragments of waste or wreckage; often associated with destruction or disaster scenarios.

worthless material

Directly describes something lacking value or usefulness; suitable for emphasizing the lack of worth.

unwanted stuff

A colloquial way of referring to items that are no longer needed or desired; suitable for informal settings.

FAQs

What are some common synonyms for "garbage"?

Common synonyms include "trash", "rubbish", and "waste". The best choice depends on context and desired level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "garbage" instead of "trash"?

"Garbage" and "trash" are often interchangeable, but "garbage" can sometimes imply more organic or decaying matter. Consider your audience and the specific type of waste being described.

Can "garbage" be used to describe something other than physical waste?

Yes, "garbage" can also describe something of poor quality or nonsense, similar to saying something is "rubbish" or "worthless".

Is "garbage in, garbage out" a common expression?

Yes, "garbage in, garbage out" is a common expression, particularly in computer science, meaning that flawed or nonsensical input data produces flawed or nonsensical output.