tatty

adjective

tat·​ty ˈta-tē 

tattier; tattiest

: rather worn, frayed, or dilapidated : shabby

a tatty shirt

tattiness

ˈta-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of tatty

• dilapidated
• neglected

Examples of tatty in a Sentence

the owner has let the restaurant become increasingly tatty over the years

Recent Examples on the Web

Charlize Theron may have worn a rather tatty burrito blanket as Calypso in The Odyssey—but the actress is putting a high fashion spin on ancient Greece for the press tour. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 July 2026

Dings, dents, and tatty old stickers are seen as badges of honor, battle scars from a hectic life as an international jet-setter. — Chris Haslam, Wired News, 1 May 2026

The aging, tatty, late-modern Pimlico was demolished last year as 1/ST and the state of Maryland hammered out their $48-million deal for the state to take over the track. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Callum’s mule is based on a tatty 1999 Mini 40th special edition. — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps akin to Old English tætteca rag — more at tatter

First Known Use

1513, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tatty

• batty
• catty
• chatty
• fatty
• natty
• pattie
• patty
• ratty