slovenly
UK: ˈslʌvənli | US: ˈslʌvənli
adj. untidy or dirty in appearance or habits
adj. careless or excessively casual in manner
slovenly = sloven<untidy person> + ly<adjective suffix>
- sloven: Derived from Middle Dutch slof (careless) or related to Old English slǣw (slothful). Historically referred to a person of untidy habits.
- ly: A common English suffix forming adjectives meaning "having the qualities of" (e.g., friendly, orderly).
Etymology Origin:
The word slovenly emerged in the 16th century, combining sloven (a term for a messy or lazy person) with the adjectival suffix -ly. It reflects societal disapproval of untidiness, originally targeting personal habits before broadening to describe general carelessness. The root sloven likely shares ancestry with Germanic words for sluggishness, reinforcing the link between laziness and neglect.
His slovenly attire made a poor impression at the interview.
She criticized his slovenly handwriting for being illegible.
The apartment was left in a slovenly state after the party.
A slovenly approach to work often leads to mistakes.
Despite his talent, his slovenly habits held him back professionally.