What does littered mean?
“Littered” describes a place covered or strewn with rubbish, discarded objects, or other items left carelessly. It can also be used figuratively to indicate that something, such as an essay, performance, or historical account, contains many faults, criticisms, or unusual features: a paper may be “littered with errors,” while an account may be “littered with dubious claims.” The expression commonly follows “with” when naming what has been scattered. “Littered across” emphasizes the wide distribution of objects rather than a single concentrated pile. In everyday use, the word carries a distinctly negative or critical tone, implying mess, neglect, disorder, or abundance of something undesirable. It is especially common in descriptions of public places polluted with rubbish and in evaluations of written or performed work.
Covered or strewn with litter or other scattered objects; figuratively, marked by numerous faults, criticisms, or similar features.
"The abandoned lot was littered with old newspapers."
Usually negative and commonly used with “with.”
Past tense and past participle of “litter,” meaning to scatter or place objects carelessly throughout an area.
"Wind littered the road with fallen leaves."
The past form can stand alone or function as a participle, as in “a littered street.”
One untidy spot can be cleaned, but a place described as littered suggests the mess has multiplied across an entire space.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does littered come from?
The word comes from the verb “litter,” whose original sense referred to spreading or arranging material, particularly bedding or straw. “Litter” developed through Old French litière, meaning a bed or bedding, from Latin lectica, a bed or litter borne on a litter, ultimately associated with lectus, “bed.” The modern meaning of scattering rubbish developed later, while figurative uses followed the idea of numerous things being strewn throughout a place.
Related word forms
How littered is actually used
The word is often negative and can suggest carelessness, disorder, or excessive criticism. In its figurative use, “littered with” commonly describes a work, performance, or record containing many faults or striking features.
Easily confused with littered
“Littered” means strewn or covered with objects, whereas “little” means small in size or amount.