adjective
ratty
RA-tee
Ratty (adjective) means Shabby, worn out, or in poor condition. Example: “He wore a ratty old sweater around the house.”
adjective
1
Shabby, worn out, or in poor condition.
"He wore a ratty old sweater around the house."
"The hotel room had a ratty carpet and peeling paint."
2
British informal for irritable or bad-tempered.
"She got ratty with the kids after a long day at work."
How to use ratty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishScruffy and worn-out, or (informally) short-tempered.
Common pairings
ratty old
get ratty with someone
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Word forms
- Comparative
- rattier
- Superlative
- rattiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He wore a _____ old sweater around the house.
Etymology
From rat plus the adjective suffix -y ("having the quality of").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ratty
See all rhymes for ratty →Frequently asked questions
What does “ratty” mean?
The word “ratty” means shabby, worn out, or in poor condition. In plain terms, scruffy and worn-out, or (informally) short-tempered.
How do you pronounce “ratty”?
“Ratty” is pronounced RA-tee (/ˈɹæti/ in IPA).
How do you use “ratty” in a sentence?
Here is “ratty” used in a sentence: “He wore a ratty old sweater around the house.”
What part of speech is “ratty”?
“Ratty” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “ratty” have?
“Ratty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: shabby, worn out, or in poor condition.
