Added 10 October 2026
unkempt
/ˌʌnˈkɛmpt/ adjective
In Latin: incomptus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about unkempt at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- uncombed, dishevelled.
-
Disorderly; untidy; messy; not kept up.
unkempt bedroom
- Rough; unpolished.
Origin
From earlier unkembed, unkemmed, from Middle English unkempt (“uncombed”), equivalent to un- + kempt. Compare Old Norse úkembdr (uncombed; unkempt"; whence Icelandic ókembdur), German ungekämmt (“unkempt”), Dutch ongekamd. More at kemb.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)