raffish

adjective

raff·ish ˈra-fish How to pronounce raffish (audio)

: marked by or suggestive of flashy vulgarity or crudeness

: marked by a careless unconventionality : rakish

raffishly adverb

raffishness noun

Did you know?

Raffish sounds like it should mean "resembling raff." But what is raff? Originally, "raff" was a word meaning "rubbish"; it derived from Middle English "raf," and it was being used for trash and refuse back in the 1400s. Around a century later, English speakers were also using the word riffraff to mean "disreputable characters" or "rabble." The origins of "riffraff" are distinct from the "rubbish" sense of "raff"; "riffraff" derived from an Anglo-French phrase meaning "one and all." By the mid-1500s, the similarities between "raff" and "riffraff" had prompted people to start using the two words as synonyms, and "raff" gained a "rabble" sense. It was that ragtag "raff" that gave rise to the adjective "raffish" in the late 1700s.

Example Sentences

the dowager cringed at the thought of raffish tourists in rough boots tromping all over her Persian rugs

Recent Examples on the Web Jonathan Majors cements his status as charismatic leading man as the raffish outlaw on a quest to hunt down those responsible for his requisite personal tragedy.

Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2022 Stevens begins his account with an introduction to his ancestors, all of whom were show people in the gloriously raffish tradition.

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 Theo Gibson — a cynical, chain-smoking bachelor who cut a raffish figure on Leverett’s campus — looms over those years.

New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022 There’s a lot of socializing but little distancing in Natchez Under-the-Hill, a strip of bars below the bluffs and a raffish echo of the old river town where musicians like Jerry Lee Lewis once played and partied.

Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021 But McConaughey has a raffish charm that makes such high jinks forgivable.

Steve Chapman, chicagotribune.com, 21 Apr. 2021 Kevin, an Englishman living in Marseille, agreed to meet with the young Helder, who hoped to learn a few secrets of the trade from a master with a raffish reputation.

Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2020 To set the raffish Bentley apart from its stuffy stablemate Rolls-Royce, the Turbo R's cockpit boasts features like a tachometer and a gear selector that has been moved from the steering column to a much sportier position in the center console.

Barry Winfield, Car and Driver, 7 July 2020 Young Lendrum’s prowess earned him a raffish preeminence among his peers.

Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2020 See More

单词	raffishness
释义	raffish adjective raff·ish ˈra-fish 1 : marked by or suggestive of flashy vulgarity or crudeness 2 : marked by a careless unconventionality : rakish raffishly adverb raffishness noun Did you know? Raffish sounds like it should mean "resembling raff." But what is raff? Originally, "raff" was a word meaning "rubbish"; it derived from Middle English "raf," and it was being used for trash and refuse back in the 1400s. Around a century later, English speakers were also using the word riffraff to mean "disreputable characters" or "rabble." The origins of "riffraff" are distinct from the "rubbish" sense of "raff"; "riffraff" derived from an Anglo-French phrase meaning "one and all." By the mid-1500s, the similarities between "raff" and "riffraff" had prompted people to start using the two words as synonyms, and "raff" gained a "rabble" sense. It was that ragtag "raff" that gave rise to the adjective "raffish" in the late 1700s. Synonyms coarse common crass crude gross ill-bred illiberal [archaic] incult insensible low lowbred lowbrow rough rough-hewn roughneck rude rugged tasteless uncouth uncultivated uncultured unpolished unrefined vulgar See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences the dowager cringed at the thought of raffish tourists in rough boots tromping all over her Persian rugs Recent Examples on the Web Jonathan Majors cements his status as charismatic leading man as the raffish outlaw on a quest to hunt down those responsible for his requisite personal tragedy. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2022 Stevens begins his account with an introduction to his ancestors, all of whom were show people in the gloriously raffish tradition. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 Theo Gibson — a cynical, chain-smoking bachelor who cut a raffish figure on Leverett’s campus — looms over those years. New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022 There’s a lot of socializing but little distancing in Natchez Under-the-Hill, a strip of bars below the bluffs and a raffish echo of the old river town where musicians like Jerry Lee Lewis once played and partied. Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 23 Apr. 2021 But McConaughey has a raffish charm that makes such high jinks forgivable. Steve Chapman, chicagotribune.com, 21 Apr. 2021 Kevin, an Englishman living in Marseille, agreed to meet with the young Helder, who hoped to learn a few secrets of the trade from a master with a raffish reputation. Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2020 To set the raffish Bentley apart from its stuffy stablemate Rolls-Royce, the Turbo R's cockpit boasts features like a tachometer and a gear selector that has been moved from the steering column to a much sportier position in the center console. Barry Winfield, Car and Driver, 7 July 2020 Young Lendrum’s prowess earned him a raffish preeminence among his peers. Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2020 See More Word History First Known Use 1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1 raffishness noun as in rudeness the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste the raffishness of the crowd in the pub offended the courtly gentleman, and so he elected instead to dine at the hotel Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance rudeness crassness lowness roughness grossness coarseness commonness indelicacy rawness indelicateness vulgarity tastelessness crudeness brutishness crudity boorishness rowdiness churlishness rusticity uncouthness loutishness artlessness gracelessness insensitiveness clownishness inelegance kitsch unsophistication insensitivity thoughtlessness tackiness Antonyms & Near Antonyms cultivation genteelness refinement polish gentility elegance urbanity grace tastefulness sensitivity consideration courtliness graciousness thoughtfulness See More
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raffish

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun