riffraff

[ rif-raf ]

noun

1. people, or a group of people, regarded as disreputable or worthless:

   a pack of riffraff.

2. the lowest classes; rabble:

   the riffraff of the city.

3. trash; rubbish.

adjective

1. worthless, disreputable, or trashy.

riffraff

/ ˈrɪfˌræf /

noun

1. worthless people, esp collectively; rabble
2. dialect.
   worthless rubbish

Word History and Origins

Origin of riffraff¹

1425–75; late Middle English rif and raf every particle, things of small value < Old French rif et raf, formed on rifler to spoil ( rifle ² ), raffler to ravage, snatch away

Word History and Origins

Origin of riffraff¹

C15 rif and raf , from Old French rif et raf ; related to rifler to plunder, and rafle a sweeping up; see rifle ², raffle

Example Sentences

Then, the specific one that a scientist wants to study is separated from the riffraff by magnets that redirect particles based on their mass and electric charge.

From Science News

You’re going to keep out a lot of the riffraff by making it harder to break iPhones.

From MIT Technology Review

We are trying to digest the riffraff of the world, and can't do it, in spite of such incorrigible optimists as Judge Leslie.

From Project Gutenberg

Here all the riffraff that had been unable to establish itself in better quarters had found some sort of a haven.

From Project Gutenberg

For goodness sake, dont get any more riffraff into our class!

From Project Gutenberg

Ample proof, however, exists that they were but the riffraff of the Order.

From Project Gutenberg

From my window where I am writing I can see how insolent the attitude of this Mohammedan riffraff is becoming.

From Project Gutenberg