ratty

American  

[rat-ee] / ˈræt i /

adjective

rattier, rattiest

1. full of rats.

2. of or characteristic of a rat.

3. wretched; shabby.

   a ratty, old overcoat.

4. Slang. irritable or angry; bad-tempered; nasty.

   I always feel ratty when I wake up.

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ratty British  

/ ˈrætɪ /

adjective

1. informal irritable; annoyed

2. informal (of the hair) unkempt or greasy

3. slang shabby; dilapidated

4. slang

   1. angry

   2. mad

5. of, like, or full of rats

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Other Word Forms

• rattily adverb
• rattiness noun

Etymology

Origin of ratty

First recorded in 1860–65; rat + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Reubens can be charming talking about “finding a character” just by putting on a ratty wig, and candid when he admits that Jay Longtoe — his Native American lounge singer character — was racist.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2025

There are clashes and there is closure, but mostly there’s just Vera, bustling around in that ratty coat and beat-up car, to solve the case, save the day and aid the afflicted.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

Although most historical accounts date the arrival of brown rats to about 1775, new evidence suggests this ratty rivalry began much earlier.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 4, 2024

Cherries fans always get ratty if I predict a loss for them so I am going to give them a point here.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2023

His ratty home under the pig trough was too chilly, so he fixed himself a cozy nest in the barn behind the grain bins.

From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White

Related Words

• worn