unkempt
Americanadjective
-
not combed.
unkempt hair.
-
uncared-for or neglected; disheveled; messy.
unkempt clothes; an unkempt lawn.
-
unpolished; rough; crude.
adjective
-
(of the hair) uncombed; dishevelled
-
ungroomed; slovenly
unkempt appearance
-
archaic crude or coarse
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unkempt
Explanation
Unkempt literally means "not combed," but use it to describe anything with a sloppy appearance. Your hair probably looks unkempt when you roll out of bed in the morning. Keep it that way if you're going for the rock star look. From the fusing of un-, "not" with kempt, "neat," comes the adjective unkempt. Kempt has fallen out of use, but unkempt persists as a popular word to describe anything unpolished, rough, or disorderly. Pig sties, the corrals where pigs live, are usually quite unkempt. That's why your mom keeps calling your messy, unkempt train wreck of a room a pig sty.
Vocabulary lists containing unkempt
The Call of the Wild
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The One and Only Ivan
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Uglies
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He said he recently visited Saunders' grave and was "sad" to see there was no longer a headstone there and the area was "unkempt."
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
She told me that mosquito populations spiked in areas with more human-made mosquito habitat, such as abandoned buildings, unkempt vacant lots, and piles of discarded bulky items.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
Seriously, it makes you just want to hug that unkempt, headband-wearing dude and let him know how his everyman story resonates with the masses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Some people might judge Roxanne’s home as messy or unkempt.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026
The slave catcher was completely gray, unkempt, skin gone sallow.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
