Unkempt
/ʌnˈkɛmpt/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Unkempt means not neat or tidy in appearance. It often refers to hair, clothes, or places that look messy because they have not been cleaned, brushed, or arranged properly. It shows a lack of care in how someone or something looks.
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See It in Action
Describing hair or physical appearance that is messy or not brushed
- •His unkempt hair fell over his eyes.
- •She looked unkempt after working all day in the garden.
- •The man’s unkempt beard made him look older.
Describing places or things that are untidy or not well maintained
- •The unkempt garden was full of weeds and dead leaves.
- •They lived in an unkempt house that needed cleaning.
- •The unkempt room had clothes scattered everywhere.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "unkempt" like "messy," but more about natural disorder, not just temporary untidiness
- ✓Picture hair that is wild and sticking out in all directions, like after waking up from sleep without brushing
- ✓It's the feeling when you see someone who looks like they forgot to fix their hair or clothes before going outside
- ✓Sounds like "un-KEPT" → imagine something that was never kept or cared for, so it looks rough and wild
- ✓Think of a character in a story who looks tired or busy, with clothes wrinkled and hair messy because they have no time to fix themselves
- ✓NOT like "clean" (well cared for), "unkempt" means the opposite: not taken care of or neat
- ✓NOT like "dirty" only (which means covered with dirt), "unkempt" focuses on being untidy or messy in appearance or order
- ✓NOT like "styled" or "groomed" (carefully arranged), "unkempt" is natural disorder without effort to look neat
Try Other Words
- •Disheveled: very untidy in appearance (Use when focusing on hair or clothes that look especially wild and out of order)
- •Untidy: not neat or organized (Use for general messiness, less strong than unkempt)
- •Scruffy: shabby and dirty in appearance (Use when the appearance is not only messy but also looks worn out or dirty)
- •Neglected: not cared for or looked after (Use for places or things that are messy because no one has taken care of them)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "un-" meaning "not"
- •Root: "kempt" from old English "kempt" meaning "kept, cared for, combed"
- •Etymology: Comes from the idea of something not kept or combed properly
- •Historical development: Originally meant not combed or groomed, now used for general untidiness in appearance or condition
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe hair, appearance, or places that look messy and not cared for
Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when you see someone with an unkempt appearance? Does it affect your opinion of them?
•Can an unkempt appearance sometimes be a choice or style, rather than neglect? How would you tell the difference?
Fill in the blanks
1.After a long day outside, his hair was unkempt and ___ by the wind.
2.The unkempt garden looked ___ because no one had watered or trimmed the plants.
3.Unlike a clean and styled look, unkempt hair shows a lack of ___ or care.
4.She didn’t mind looking unkempt after working hard; it showed she was ___.
5.The old house was unkempt, with ___ scattered all over the floor.
6.People often use "unkempt" to describe someone who looks ___ or tired.
7.An unkempt beard usually means the person has not ___ it recently.