riffraff

riff·raff

R r

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [rif-raf]
- /ˈrɪfˌræf/
- /ˈrɪfˌræf/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [rif-raf]
- /ˈrɪfˌræf/

Definitions of riffraff word

noun riffraff people, or a group of people, regarded as disreputable or worthless: a pack of riffraff. 1
noun riffraff the lowest classes; rabble: the riffraff of the city. 1
noun riffraff trash; rubbish. 1
adjective riffraff worthless, disreputable, or trashy. 1
noun riffraff common people 1
uncountable noun riffraff If you refer to a group of people as riffraff, you disapprove of them because you think they are not respectable. 0

See all 10 definitions of riffraff

Information block about the term

Origin of riffraff

First appearance:

before 1425

One of the 25% oldest English words

1425-75; late Middle English rif and raf every particle, things of small value < Old French rif et raf, formed on rifler to spoil (see rifle2), raffler to ravage, snatch away

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Riffraff

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Riffraff

riffraff popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 68% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

riffraff usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for riffraff

noun riffraff

blackguard — an unprincipled contemptible person; scoundrel
bottom feeder — a fish that feeds on material at the bottom of a river, lake, sea, etc
canaille — the masses; mob; rabble
cur — A cur is an unfriendly dog, especially a mongrel.
debris — Debris is pieces from something that has been destroyed or pieces of rubbish or unwanted material that are spread around.

All 16 Synonyms of riffraff