Cryptic crossword clue
“Dirty” biography stops editor retiring 6

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word DEFILE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
D
E
F
I
L
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Dirty/Dirty" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case dirty/dirty = defile.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does DEFILE mean?

DEFILE verb
  1. To make unclean, dirty, or impure; soil; befoul.
  2. To vandalize or add inappropriate contents to something considered sacred or special; desecrate
  3. To deprive or ruin someone's (sexual) purity or chastity, often not consensually; stain; tarnish; mar; rape
DEFILE noun
  1. A narrow way or passage, e.g. between mountains.
  2. A single file, such as of soldiers.
  3. The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior.
DEFILE verb
  1. To march in a single file; to file.

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