Word
shabby
Phoneticsshab·by, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃæbi/
UK/ʃˈæbi/
Definition
adj. looking old and in bad condition because of too much use or lack of care.
adj. showing signs of wear and tear; neglected or dilapidated in appearance. Often describes clothing, furniture, or buildings that have lost their original quality.
Examples
“He wore a shabby old coat to the park.”
“The hotel lobby looked a bit shabby, with faded carpets and peeling wallpaper that hadn't been replaced in decades.”
“Despite its shabby exterior, the bookstore housed a collection of rare first editions that attracted collectors from across the country.”
Examples
simple
“He wore a shabby old coat to the park.”
contextual
“The hotel lobby looked a bit shabby, with faded carpets and peeling wallpaper that hadn't been replaced in decades.”
complex
“Despite its shabby exterior, the bookstore housed a collection of rare first editions that attracted collectors from across the country.”
Usage
Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after linking verbs like 'look' or 'become'.
Etymology
The adjective is derived from shab (“(obsolete except UK, dialectal) scaly skin disease; skin disease of sheep; crust forming over wound, scab”) + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’ forming adjectives). The verb is derived from the adjective. Cognates * Dutch schabbig (“poor, needy, shabby”) * Middle High German schebic (modern German schäbig (“shabby”)) * Middle Low German schabbich (“miserable”) (modern Low German schabbig, schäbbig) * Scots shabby (“in poor health, ill”) * Swedish sjabbig (“shabby, mangy, scruffy”), skabbig (“scabby”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/shabby