What does tattery mean?
Tattery is an uncommon adjective meaning shabby, ragged, or worn out, especially like something made up of tatters. It is most often applied to clothing, although it can describe other objects or, figuratively, a person’s overall appearance or condition. The word conveys a strongly visual impression of fraying, deterioration, and neglect. Its sound may suggest the unsteady or unsteady-looking condition of something in tatters, although the word is normally used before a noun rather than as a description of movement. In modern English, tattery is chiefly literary or old-fashioned; the more familiar tattered conveys the same basic idea in ordinary speech. Tattery is therefore a useful word for expressive writing that wants to evoke a conspicuously ragged or threadbare condition rather than merely describe an item as damaged.
adjectiveShabby or ragged, especially as if made up of or reduced to tatters.
- Shabby or ragged, as if made up of tatters.
"The old coat looked tattery after years of hard use."
"He pulled on his tattery jacket and headed out into the rain."
"The once-elegant curtains now looked tattery and forlorn."
A tattery garment has seen better days—and may be only one away from falling apart.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tattery come from?
Tattery was formed in English by adding the adjective suffix -y to tatter. It developed alongside the older adjective tattered, which is related to the noun tatter, a scrap or fragment of torn cloth. The word belongs to the familiar English family of forms based on tatter and tatters, rather than to a separate foreign etymon.
Related word forms
How tattery is actually used
Tattery is uncommon and literary in tone; tattered is more natural in everyday usage. It can describe clothing or other fabric and, figuratively, something worn out or in poor condition.
Easily confused with tattery
Tattered is the usual participial adjective meaning ragged or worn into tatters, whereas tattery is a less common adjective describing a generally ragged or shabby condition.