pond scum

noun

Algae, especially when growing on the surface of a pond.

Similar
pondlife
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Meanings

nounpond scum (uncountable)
  1. uncountableAlgae, especially when growing on the surface of a pond.
  2. figurativelyuncountableWorthless, insignificant person or people.

    Another band, Social Distortion, went onstage before us, and they had the favor of Neil’s stage manager, Tim, since their tattoos, cut-off leather vests, and greasy styled haird screamed “rock,” whereas Tim looked upon us as foreign pond scum.

    2015, Kim Gordon, chapter 28, in Carrie Thornton, editor, Girl in a Band, New York: Dey st., →ISBN, page 166

    Synonyms: pondlife

Synonyms & antonyms

nounWorthless, insignificant person or people.

Similar
pondlife
Also see
pondlife
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: pond scum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.