Word
shaggy
Phoneticsshag·gy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃæɡi/
UK/ʃˈæɡi/
Definition
adj. having long, thick, and messy hair or fur. It describes something that looks a bit wild and unbrushed.
adj. covered with or consisting of long, thick, and unkempt hair, fur, or wool. Often used to describe animals or textiles with a coarse, uneven texture.
Examples
“The shaggy dog needs a haircut.”
“After weeks in the wilderness, the hiker returned with a shaggy beard and tangled hair.”
“The living room was decorated in a retro style, featuring a bright orange shaggy rug that felt soft but looked intentionally messy.”
Examples
simple
“The shaggy dog needs a haircut.”
contextual
“After weeks in the wilderness, the hiker returned with a shaggy beard and tangled hair.”
complex
“The living room was decorated in a retro style, featuring a bright orange shaggy rug that felt soft but looked intentionally messy.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'look' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“On her list are a shaggy sheepskin rug and a capiz lampshade, which are “all easy to source secondhand”, she says.” “In Creed-Miles’s shaggy curls and Dillane’s impish smile, there’s a little indie punk to Marianne and Willoughby.” Etymology
Etymology tree Old English sċeacga Middle English *schagge English shag Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English shaggy From shag + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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