adjective
tatty
TAT-ee/ˈtæti/
Worn and shabby in appearance.
The tatty armchair has frayed arms, a split cushion seam, and a sagging seat.
Etymology
Tatty first described tangled or matted hair, then came to describe a ragged or shabby person. It is probably related to Old English tættec, “a rag.”
In context
he doesn't want his car for the amazing comfort the CD player the climate control or the Tatty body work
More examples
- The waiting room looks tattier every year.
- She replaces the tatty curtains with a fresh pair.
- Even his tattiest paperback still has all its pages.
Forms
tatty · tattier · tattiest
tattiness noun — The condition of looking worn and shabby.
Similar words
- shabby
- Shabby describes a generally worn or poorly maintained appearance.
- tattered
- Tattered specifically suggests tears, rips, or loose, ragged edges.
- threadbare
- Threadbare usually describes fabric worn thin from repeated use.