[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scruffy.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / scruffy

[← S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/S/)

# scruffy

«scruffy» in Mova's school dictionary: **Untidy and a bit dirty or worn out, about a person…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (scruffy, scruffier, scruffiest)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Untidy and a bit dirty or worn out, about a person, clothes or a place. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#m1)

2) (of an animal) With messy, rough fur. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In stories, a scruffy character might be poor, lazy, busy or simply relaxed — a scruffy dog is often lovable. In school, teachers may say «your uniform looks scruffy» (tuck your shirt in). Phrases: «scruffy clothes», «scruffy hair», «a scruffy little dog», «look scruffy».

### examples

- His jumper was scruffy with holes in the elbows. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#x1)
- A scruffy little dog followed us home. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#x2)
- Tuck your shirt in — you look scruffy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#x3)
- The garden looked scruffy after the winter. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#x4)
- Her handwriting was scruffy because she rushed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#x5)
- The scruffy old teddy was still his favourite. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/#x6)

### note

Comparatives: scruffier, scruffiest. Informal but polite. Opposites: smart, neat, tidy. Similar: messy, shabby, untidy.

### In the corpora

- [On the way home from school a scruffy street dog starts trotting behind you.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/371-street-dogs-and-cats-feeding-safety-and-never-touching-a-strange-animal/0/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «scruffy» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scruffy/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.