tat

4 synonyms for tat, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — (informal, chiefly British) Cheap, tacky, or poor-quality items; junk or trinkets.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

cheapness tackiness sleaze intertwine

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

(informal, chiefly British) Cheap, tacky, or poor-quality items; junk or trinkets.

“The seaside gift shop was full of tat — keyrings, snow globes, the lot.”

cheapness tackiness sleaze

2. verb

To make lace or trim by knotting thread in a decorative pattern (tatting).

“Her grandmother still tats delicate lace edging by hand.”

intertwine

How to use tat

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a load of tat cheap tat

Informal, mostly British usage in the "junk" and "tattoo" senses.

Etymology

The "junk" sense traces back to a Hindi word for coarse canvas cloth (ṭāṭ); the lace-making sense is a separate word thought to come from Scandinavian roots.

Full origin of tat →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tat” mean?

The word “tat” means (informal, chiefly British) Cheap, tacky, or poor-quality items; junk or trinkets. In plain terms, cheap, low-value stuff — or, separately, a tattoo or the craft of knotting decorative lace.

How do you pronounce “tat”?

“Tat” is pronounced tat (/tæt/ in IPA).

How do you use “tat” in a sentence?

Here is “tat” used in a sentence: “The seaside gift shop was full of tat — keyrings, snow globes, the lot.”

What part of speech is “tat”?

Depending on how it is used, “tat” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “tat” come from?

The word “tat” comes from Hindi. The "junk" sense traces back to a Hindi word for coarse canvas cloth (ṭāṭ); the lace-making sense is a separate word thought to come from Scandinavian roots.

Is “tat” a common word?

“Tat” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “tat” have?

“Tat” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (informal, chiefly British) Cheap, tacky, or poor-quality items; junk or trinkets.

People also searched

cheapness sleaze intertwine

Nearby words

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