scruffyscruf‧fy /ˈskrʌfi/ adjective 
Word Origin
a scruffy old pair of jeans scruffy shops—scruffily adverb: a scruffily dressed man—scruffiness noun [uncountable]
Word OriginWORD ORIGINscruffy
ExamplesOrigin:
1800-1900 scruff ‘messy person’ (19-21 centuries), from scurf; ➔ SCURVYEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- a scruffy sweatshirt
- My parents think I look scruffy in these jeans, but I like them.
- She's wearing that scruffy old sweater again.
- A scruffy cyclist who used the Dixons credit cards was never found.
- I still don't feel it's necessary to wear scruffy clothes to be an actor.
- It looks best worn casual and scruffy, but everyone seems intent on continually dressing it up.
- Old silver heels have been abandoned under a work table in favor of scruffy penny loafers.
- Their conversation stops abruptly when a scruffy man approaches the cash register, pulls out a gun and demands all the money.
- While Mr Clarke revels in his scruffy image, Mr Portillo is a dapper dresser.
THESAURUSperson► untidy
Collocations 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.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► scruffy clothes
dirty and untidy: (=dirty and untidy)· She was poor and dressed in scruffy clothes.
a scruffy old pair of jeans scruffy shops—scruffily adverb: a scruffily dressed man—scruffiness noun [uncountable]