adj
scruffy
SKRUHF-ee
Scruffy (adj) means Untidy or shabby in appearance. Example: “He showed up in a scruffy t-shirt and jeans.”
adj
1
Untidy or shabby in appearance.
"And I will think of my father, sun-baked, scruffy and far from home, stalking the wilds of Clapham Common, saved from a dinner of roasted aesculin by people who knew the importance of making someone feel at home."
— Nell Frizzell, When my father first came to the UK, people bonded and looked after him. Would that happen now? (2025)
"He showed up in a scruffy t-shirt and jeans."
"The scruffy old dog wandered into the yard."
"A scruffy little dog came scampering down the road."
How to use scruffy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMessy, unkempt, or shabby-looking.
Common pairings
scruffy beard
scruffy dog
look scruffy
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Word forms
- Plural
- scruffies
- Comparative
- scruffier
- Superlative
- scruffiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He showed up in a _____ t-shirt and jeans.
Etymology
From scruff + -y, originally describing something flaky or unkempt-looking, like scurf on skin.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for scruffy
See all rhymes for scruffy →Frequently asked questions
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.
