permanent dirt

noun

A tattoo

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Meanings

nounpermanent dirt (uncountable)
  1. colloquialuncountableA tattoo
  2. colloquialuncountableAny form of tattoo, piercing, (deliberate) scarring or other body modification that is considered permanent or would take significant effort to remove.
  3. colloquialuncountableA hair dye or permanent wave that must be allowed to grow out or be reversed by repeating the process, that will not wash out.

Origin

Originated as a slang term in tattoo and piercing parlours in Californian counter culture but has gained traction in mainstream society and other areas.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

permanent dirt. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/permanent%20dirt

MLA

“permanent dirt.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/permanent%20dirt. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “permanent dirt,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/permanent%20dirt.

Source: permanent dirt on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.