What does unsightliness mean?
Unsightliness is a formal noun meaning the quality of being visually unattractive. It names an aesthetic defect in a person, object, building, landscape, or arrangement of surroundings, and it is often stronger and more formal than ugliness. In ordinary speech, writers may prefer the adjective unsightly, as in “the unsightly pile of rubbish,” but unsightliness is useful when the unattractive quality needs to be treated as an abstract feature. For example, critics can describe the neglect and disorder of a derelict site as a kind of visual ugliness without reducing the judgment to a single label. The word is most natural in formal criticism, journalism, and literary description, where its slightly elevated register gives the phrase a measured tone. It is usually uncountable, though plural forms are occasionally possible. The word is most natural in formal criticism, journalism, and literary description, where its slightly elevated register gives the phrase a measured tone. It is usually uncountable, though plural forms are occasionally possible.
nounThe quality of being visually unattractive or ugly. It is a formal and relatively uncommon term, especially when describing a person, object, building, or surroundings.
- The quality or condition of being visually unattractive or ugly.
"The unsightliness of the derelict factory dominated the view from the river."
"The unsightliness of the neglected garden spoiled the otherwise attractive village."
"Architectural critics condemned the unsightliness of the proposed development."
Rare; unsightliness is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The report catalogued several gross unsightlessnesses in the historic district."
Unsightliness is to unsightly what ugliness is to ugly: a formal noun for visual unattractiveness.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unsightliness come from?
Unsightliness is an English formation made by adding the suffix -ness to the adjective unsightly. Unsightly itself combines the prefix un- with sightly, while sightly derives from sight and the suffix -ly. Related words include sightly, meaning attractive or pleasing to look at, and sightless, meaning lacking sight.
How unsightliness is actually used
Formal, literary, and relatively uncommon; it occurs especially in critical descriptions of buildings, landscapes, objects, and surroundings. It is usually treated as an uncountable noun, although rare plural uses are possible.
Easily confused with unsightliness
Unsightliness is the noun naming an unattractive quality, whereas unsightly is the adjective describing something that has that quality.