Standard Lemma guide

shabbiness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The property of being shabby.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an unjust act

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: injustice, unfairness, iniquity

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wrongdoing, wrongful conduct, misconduct, actus reus

3

noun

Meaning 3

a lack of elegance as a consequence of wearing threadbare or dirty clothing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: seediness, manginess, sleaziness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inelegance

Narrower terms: raggedness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English shabby Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English shabbiness From shabby + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: износеност (iznosenost) — The property of being shabby.
  • Bulgarian: опърпаност (opǎrpanost) — The property of being shabby.
  • German: Schäbigkeit — The property of being shabby.
  • Ukrainian: убогість (ubohistʹ) — The property of being shabby.
  • Ukrainian: занедбаність (zanedbanistʹ) — The property of being shabby.
  • Ukrainian: зношеність (znošenistʹ) — The property of being shabby.
  • Ukrainian: нікчемність (nikčemnistʹ) — The property of being shabby.