unkemptun‧kempt /ˌʌnˈkempt◂/ adjective 
Word Origin
Word OriginWORD ORIGINunkempt
ExamplesOrigin:
1300-1400 kempt ‘combed’ (11-21 centuries), from Old English cemban ‘to comb’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- an unkempt beard
- Hoskins beard was tangled and unkempt.
- She used to dress so neatly, but now her hair and clothes had become unkempt and dirty.
- An unkempt coat will provide a refuge for parasites, and if soiled with faecal matter is likely to attract flies.
- Did her unkempt condition preclude making a quest out of her?
- Every last bit of unkempt hedge in our front garden was taking the same attitude it had always taken.
- In the open doorway stood an unkempt though not unattractive young man who was dark of hair and eye.
- Now some of them look unkempt, neglected, despite the fine new houses and gardens which are springing up.
- Willie closed it carefully behind them and they walked into a wild and unkempt garden.
- With his unkempt ginger hair running down into sideboards it made his hard face look even meaner.
THESAURUSplace► untidy
unkempt hair or plants have not been cut and kept neat British English not tidy – used especially when things have not been put back in their correct place: · an untidy bedroom· an untidy desk· The house was cramped and untidy.
► messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · a messy kitchen· You’ve made the table all messy.
► be a mess (also be in a mess British English) informal to be very untidy or dirty: · The whole house is in a mess, but I didn’t have time to clean it up.· Sorry everything’s such a mess.
► cluttered untidy because there are too many things in a small space: · She gazed around the cluttered kitchen.· The office was cluttered with books.· Her desk was too cluttered.
► unkempt untidy and not well-looked after – used about gardens or land: · unkempt lawns· They walked into a wild and unkempt garden.· an unkempt plot in the cemetery
► be a pigsty/pit informal used when saying that a place is very untidy and dirty, and someone should clean it: · This place is a pigsty! Clean it up.· I don’t know how you can stand living in a pigsty like this.· My room’s a total pit, but I’m too lazy to clean it.
person► untidy British English an untidy person does not do things in a neat way, for example they leave things lying around instead of putting them back in the correct place. Also used about someone’s appearance, when they do not comb their hair, take care of their clothes etc: · She was always very untidy – her clothes lay on the floor where she had dropped them.· He had obviously been sleeping; his hair was untidy and his chin unshaven.
► messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · You’ve made my hair all messy.· a messy eater
► scruffy British English wearing old and untidy clothes: · My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.· She’s wearing that scruffy old sweater again.
► slovenly especially written untidy and lazy: · The servants were old and slovenly.· his slovenly appearance· The work was done in a slow, slovenly way.
► bedraggled used when someone looks untidy because they have got wet or dirty: · A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.· The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled.
► dishevelled British English, disheveled American English if someone’s hair or clothes look dishevelled, they look untidy, for example because they have just been in bed or in a windy place: · Her hair was uncombed and her clothes were dishevelled.· a dishevelled old man· The singer was photographed looking ill and dishevelled.
► unkempt especially written if someone has unkempt hair or an unkempt appearance, they look untidy and have not been taking care of the way they look: · a rough-looking youth with long black unkempt hair· The man looked tired and unkempt.
► slob noun [countable] informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are: · Jo’s such a slob – how can you live like that?· If you keep dressing like a slob, no one’s ever going to ask you for a date.
place► untidy British English not tidy – used especially when things have not been put back in their correct place: · an untidy bedroom· an untidy desk· The house was cramped and untidy.
► messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · a messy kitchen· You’ve made the table all messy.
► be a mess (also be in a mess British English) informal to be very untidy or dirty: · The whole house is in a mess, but I didn’t have time to clean it up.· Sorry everything’s such a mess.
► cluttered untidy because there are too many things in a small space: · She gazed around the cluttered kitchen.· The office was cluttered with books.· Her desk was too cluttered.
► unkempt untidy and not well-looked after – used about gardens or land: · unkempt lawns· They walked into a wild and unkempt garden.· an unkempt plot in the cemetery
► be a pigsty/pit informal used when saying that a place is very untidy and dirty, and someone should clean it: · This place is a pigsty! Clean it up.· I don’t know how you can stand living in a pigsty like this.· My room’s a total pit, but I’m too lazy to clean it.
person► untidy British English an untidy person does not do things in a neat way, for example they leave things lying around instead of putting them back in the correct place. Also used about someone’s appearance, when they do not comb their hair, take care of their clothes etc: · She was always very untidy – her clothes lay on the floor where she had dropped them.· He had obviously been sleeping; his hair was untidy and his chin unshaven.
► messy untidy or dirty. American people use this word instead of untidy. British people use this word, but it sounds less formal than untidy: · You’ve made my hair all messy.· a messy eater
► scruffy British English wearing old and untidy clothes: · My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.· She’s wearing that scruffy old sweater again.
► slovenly especially written untidy and lazy: · The servants were old and slovenly.· his slovenly appearance· The work was done in a slow, slovenly way.
► bedraggled used when someone looks untidy because they have got wet or dirty: · A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.· The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled.
► dishevelled British English, disheveled American English if someone’s hair or clothes look dishevelled, they look untidy, for example because they have just been in bed or in a windy place: · Her hair was uncombed and her clothes were dishevelled.· a dishevelled old man· The singer was photographed looking ill and dishevelled.
► unkempt especially written if someone has unkempt hair or an unkempt appearance, they look untidy and have not been taking care of the way they look: · a rough-looking youth with long black unkempt hair· The man looked tired and unkempt.
► slob noun [countable] informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are: · Jo’s such a slob – how can you live like that?· If you keep dressing like a slob, no one’s ever going to ask you for a date.
Longman Language Activatorperson/clothes/hair► untidy British /messy American someone who is untidy does not keep their clothes, hair etc neatly arranged: · The little children were dirty and untidy, but very happy.· Her hair was messy and her lipstick was smudged.· He was comically tall and thin with a long growth of untidy beard.
► be a mess also look a mess British informal to look very untidy: · I can't go out looking like this - I'm a mess.· When the police called, I had just got up, and my hair looked a mess.
► scruffy British someone who is scruffy is wearing old, untidy clothes: · My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.scruffy clothes/jeans/sweater etc: · She's wearing that scruffy old sweater again.
► slovenly extremely untidy and careless, and often dirty: · Their landlady was fat and slovenly.· The aide was hired to keep the governor's slovenly brother out of the public eye.
► slob informal someone who is extremely untidy but does not seem to care that they are: · Jo's such a slob - how can you live like that?· If you keep dressing like a slob, no one's ever going to ask you for a date.
► unkempt especially written someone whose clothes or hair are unkempt , has made no effort to try to look clean or tidy: · Hoskins beard was tangled and unkempt.· She used to dress so neatly, but now her hair and clothes had become unkempt and dirty.
► dishevelled British /disheveled American someone who is dishevelled has untidy hair and clothes, often because they have been in a hurry, or have been travelling or working hard: · He looked dusty, disheveled, and very tired.· The actress was found disheveled and confused in a Los Angeles back yard.· She was conscious of her rather dishevelled appearance.
► bedraggled someone who is bedraggled looks untidy, especially because they are wet or muddy: · A rather bedraggled crowd waited outside in the pouring rain.· The children walked along the path, looking miserable and bedraggled after the storm.
► rumpled if clothes are rumpled , they have lots of creases in them and they look untidy. (Creases are lines where something has been folded.): · Forman was wearing a rumpled sweatsuit and a three-day beard.· Her dress was as rumpled as if she'd slept in it.