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Added 7 October 2026

unruly

/ʌnˈɹuːli/ adjective

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about unruly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline.
a boisterous crowd
Unwilling to submit to authority.
unruly teenagers
Incapable of being controlled.
the little boy's parents think he is spirited, but his teacher finds him unruly

Origin

From Middle English unruly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + rule + -ly (compare Middle English ruly, reuli (“subject to a religious rule, regular”)), but also representing a modified continuation of earlier Middle English unrouly, unroly (“unquiet, restless”), equivalent to un- + roolie. The latter is perhaps from or influenced by Old Norse *úróligr, related to Danish urolig (“restless”), Swedish orolig (“restless”), Icelandic órólegur (“agitated”). Compare also Middle English unroo, unro (“unrest”). More at roo.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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