musty

musty — adjective

1. having an unpleasant, stale smell caused by dampness or mold, like the smell of

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having an unpleasant, stale smell caused by dampness or mold, like the smell of old books kept in a basement or a room that has been closed for too long without fresh air.

Example

When Diya opened her grandmother's attic suitcase, a musty smell of mothballs drifted out.

musty smell of [noun] — pattern describing a smell source

The basement had a musty odor that no amount of air freshener could cover up.

musty odor — common collocation

Common collocations
  • musty smell
  • musty odor
  • musty scent
  • musty air
  • musty room
  • musty basement
  • musty attic
  • musty books
  • musty clothes
  • go musty
  • smell musty
  • slightly musty
  • damp and musty
Synonyms
  • moldy

    emphasizes visible mold or mildew on a surface rather than just the smell

  • stale

    broader term for air lacking freshness, not specific to dampness

  • fusty

    chiefly British, nearly identical in meaning but less common

  • mildewed

    more specifically about mildew fungus, often with visible patches

Antonyms
  • fresh

    clean-smelling and airy, the direct opposite of musty

  • airy

    well-ventilated and open, unlike a musty enclosed space

Grammar Patterns

musty + noun (attributive)

be/smell/become + musty (predicative)

Usage Note

Frequently used with nouns related to smell or atmosphere: 'smell,' 'odor,' 'scent,' 'air,' 'room,' 'basement,' 'attic.' Unlike 'moldy,' which can describe visible mold growth, 'musty' primarily describes an odor or environment. Can be used in either attributive position ('a musty basement') or predicative position ('the basement smells musty').

Common Mistakes

The bread in the fridge has gone musty.
The bread in the fridge has gone moldy.
'Musty' describes an unpleasant smell from damp or stale air, not the visible growth of mold on food.

Word family

  • mustiness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Musty,' 'moldy,' 'stale,' and 'fusty' all describe unpleasant qualities of old or decaying things, but they differ in focus. 'Musty' centers on the smell of a closed, damp space — mildew on paper, damp fabric, an old cellar. 'Moldy' is more concrete: it refers to visible mold or mildew on a surface (moldy bread, moldy walls). 'Stale' is the broadest — it describes air or food that has lost its freshness but not necessarily from dampness (stale crackers, stale office air). 'Fusty' is the British English near-synonym of 'musty,' though it is less common and often carries a hint of old-fashioned stuffiness. Finally, 'mildewed' names the specific fungus that causes the musty smell. For everyday use: 'The basement smells musty' is natural; 'the basement smells moldy' suggests visible mold patches; and 'the office air feels stale' describes poor ventilation rather than dampness.

moldystale ↗fustymildewed

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • slightly musty
  • damply musty
  • faintly musty

Phrases

  • go musty
  • smell musty
  • become musty
  • turn musty

Etymology

Middle Englishpossibly French (moiste, meaning damp)English

'Musty' first appeared in English around the 1520s. Its origin is uncertain, but it likely comes from a blend of 'moist' (damp) and the noun 'must' (mold or dampness), influenced by the idea of stale, wine-musty air. Over time it became the standard word for the smell of damp, poorly aired places.