What does scuff mean?
To scuff something is to rub or scrape it against a rough surface, causing a mark or minor damage. The word is especially common in connection with shoes, so a person may scuff the toes of footwear by dragging them along the ground. As a noun, a scuff is the mark left by this action: it is generally broader and less sharply defined than a scratch, and may involve a worn, scraped, or discolored area. Scuffs commonly occur on leather shoes, the floor, furniture, and other objects that experience repeated friction. The term is neutral in register and is used in everyday English in both Britain and the United States. A scuff often indicates ordinary wear, although the word can also imply damage caused by careless or rough handling.
A mark or area of damage caused by rubbing against a rough surface.
"The table had a scuff near one of its legs."
Common for marks on shoes, floors, leather goods, and furniture.
To rub or scrape a surface, causing a mark or minor damage.
"Please avoid scuffing the floor while moving the chairs."
Often used with shoes, footwear, floors, and other surfaces.
Used for multiple marks or areas of surface damage.
"The old boots were covered in scuffs and scratches."
The word scuff can name both the mark that appears on a shoe and the rubbing action that creates it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scuff come from?
The precise origin of scuff is uncertain, although the word was established in English by the sixteenth century. It developed both as a noun for a mark produced by rubbing and as a verb for the action of rubbing or scraping a surface. Its semantic range has remained centered on abrasion, surface wear, and the marks associated with them.
Related word forms
How scuff is actually used
The word is common in both formal and informal English. It is especially associated with footwear, floors, furniture, and other surfaces that become visibly marked through contact or friction.
Easily confused with scuff
A scratch is a narrow mark made by a pointed or sharp object, whereas a scuff is usually broader and results from rubbing against another surface.