What does linty mean?
Linty is an informal American adjective for something shaggy, unkempt, or covered with loose fibers. It is especially associated with clothing and hair: a sweater may be described as linty when pills and stray threads have accumulated on it, while someone might be called linty if their hair or dress looks conspicuously dishevelled. The word is mildly critical rather than neutral and conveys the impression of untidiness more strongly than it describes the quantity of lint itself. Although “linty” can occasionally suggest merely being furry or woolly, its usual implication is that an item or person has become neglected or messy. In everyday conversation, the adjective is useful because it combines a precise reference to textile fibers with the broader social judgment of being poorly groomed or dressed. In formal writing, “shaggy,” “unkempt,” or “dishevelled” will usually be clearer and less colloquial.
adjectiveShaggy or unkempt, especially as a result of being covered with loose fibers or lint.
- Shaggy or unkempt, especially because of loose fibers or lint.
"He pulled on a linty sweater and hurried out the door."
"Her coat was old and linty, but still warm."
"The dog came in from the garden with a decidedly linty coat."
LINTY captures the wonderfully unglamorous sight of clothes or hair overrun with every loose fiber in sight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does linty come from?
Linty was formed from the noun lint and the suffix -y. The noun lint entered Middle English through Old Norse lín, a term associated with flax or linen, and referred originally to textile fibers. The adjective developed from this textile sense and is now used especially for clothing or hair that appears covered in lint or otherwise dishevelled.
How linty is actually used
This is an informal and mildly disparaging term, used especially in North American English. It is commonly applied to clothing, hair, or a person's overall dishevelled appearance.