adj

scruffy

SKRUHF-ee

Scruffy (adj) means Untidy or shabby in appearance. Example: “He showed up in a scruffy t-shirt and jeans.”

adj

Untidy or shabby in appearance.

"He showed up in a scruffy t-shirt and jeans."

"The scruffy old dog wandered into the yard."

How to use scruffy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMessy, unkempt, or shabby-looking.

Common pairings

scruffy beard scruffy dog look scruffy

scruffier comparative, scruffies plural, scruffiest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

He showed up in a _____ t-shirt and jeans.

From scruff + -y, originally describing something flaky or unkempt-looking, like scurf on skin.

huffy puffy buffy Duffy Muffy fluffy stuffy

What does “scruffy” mean?

The word “scruffy” means untidy or shabby in appearance. In plain terms, messy, unkempt, or shabby-looking.

How do you pronounce “scruffy”?

“Scruffy” is pronounced SKRUHF-ee (/ˈskɹʌf.i/ in IPA).

How do you use “scruffy” in a sentence?

Here is “scruffy” used in a sentence: “He showed up in a scruffy t-shirt and jeans.”

What part of speech is “scruffy”?

“Scruffy” is an adjective.