Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ragtag

/ɹˈæɡtˌæɡ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.37 in modern English

Syllables: rag-tag
IPA: /ɹˈæɡtˌæɡ/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Unkempt, shabby, or in a state of disrepair.

adj

Very diverse; having irregular and dissimilar components.

noun

A shabby, unkempt person.

Example Sentences

"He liked to wear an old ragtag coat that was so threadbare that he'd get sunburned through it."
"The guerrillas were a ragtag band of local thugs, former soldiers, displaced farmers, and political idealists."
"Near-synonym: ragbag"
"The small group of ragtags, who had followed him to the cave a day prior had arrived and kept a short distance away."

Etymology

From earlier tag-rag and tag and rag, from rag + tag.

Inflected Forms

more ragtag (comparative) most ragtag (superlative) rag-tag (alternative) ragtags (plural)

Phrases

ragtag and bobtail

Frequently Paired Words

ragtag and bobtail

Synonyms

bedraggled decrepit motheaten tattered motley jumbled patchwork uneven ragbag

Questions

How do you pronounce ragtag?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɹˈæɡtˌæɡ/.
What does ragtag mean?: Unkempt, shabby, or in a state of disrepair.
Where does ragtag come from?: From earlier tag-rag and tag and rag, from rag + tag.

How to pronounce ragtag

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ragtag”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹˈæɡtˌæɡ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ragtag”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ragtag” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.