noun

roughness

RUHF-nuhs

noun

The quality of having an uneven, coarse, or bumpy surface or texture.

"You could feel the roughness of the bark under your fingers."

"The roughness of the fabric made it uncomfortable to wear."

Harshness or lack of gentleness in behavior, sound, or manner.

"There was a roughness to his voice after shouting all afternoon."

How to Use Roughness

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe state of being rough — whether that's a bumpy surface, harsh sound, or coarse manner.

Common pairings

surface roughness roughness of the terrain a certain roughness

roughnesses plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

You could feel the _____ of the bark under your fingers.

From Old English hreoh (\"rough, stormy\") plus the suffix -ness, which turns an adjective into a noun.

toughness