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sloppy
/ˈslɒpi/
careless or messy
He did a sloppy job on his homework.
His work was done without care, resulting in mistakes and untidiness.
informal
careless or done without attention to detail
The chef's sloppy handling of food led to cross-contamination.
The chef was careless, causing food safety issues.
She wore a sloppy sweater with coffee stains.
Her sweater was untidy and poorly maintained.
Often describes work, appearance, or behavior lacking precision or effort.
informal
wet and messy, often with liquid spills
The sloppy floor after the spill needed mopping.
The floor was wet and messy due to the liquid.
Less common than the primary definition but still valid in certain contexts.
Collocations
sloppy workpoor-quality work due to lack of caresloppy writinghandwriting or text that is untidy or hard to readsloppy dressersomeone who dresses without attention to neatness
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes with 'Sloppy'
Do not confuse 'sloppy' with 'soppy' (excessively sentimental). 'Sloppy' always implies carelessness, not emotional excess.
Gold Rule
When to Use 'Sloppy'
Use 'sloppy' to describe work, clothing, or behavior that lacks neatness or precision. It is rarely used for people directly (e.g., 'a sloppy person') but can describe their actions or appearance.
Word Origin
From 'slop' (loose liquid or semi-liquid food) + '-y' (suffix indicating quality). Originally (17th century) referred to loose, unstructured clothing or food consistency. By the 19th century, it evolved to describe carelessness in work or appearance.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in informal contexts to criticize lack of effort or attention to detail. Avoid using in formal writing unless quoting informal speech.
Word Breakdown
slop
loose liquid or semi-liquid substance
root-y
suffix indicating 'having the quality of'
suffixEnglish Dictionary