Riffraff: meaning, definitions and examples

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riffraff

 

[ หˆrifหŒraf ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

low class

Riffraff refers to people who are considered to be of low social status or undesirable in a society. The term often carries a negative connotation, suggesting that these individuals are disreputable or worthless. Riffraff can be used to describe a group of people perceived as rowdy or troublesome. It is frequently associated with disorderly conduct and a lack of refinement.

Synonyms

hooligans, mob, rabble, scum, trash

Examples of usage

  • The party was filled with riffraff, causing a lot of noise and chaos.
  • I donโ€™t want to associate with that riffraff; they bring nothing but trouble.
  • The city council is trying to clean up the area by removing the riffraff.
  • She refused to invite any riffraff to her upscale gallery opening.

Translations

Translations of the word "riffraff" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น ralรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เค‚เคฆเค—เฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Gesindel

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kaum pengacau

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั…ัƒะปั–ะณะฐะฝะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ szumowiny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ‚ชๅ…š

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท racaille

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ gentuza

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sรผrtรผk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์“ฐ๋ ˆ๊ธฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุญุซุงู„ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ povl

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ฤvarga

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆตๆฐ“

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ smeti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ skrรญmsli

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัาฏะผะฑั–ะปะต

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒงแƒแƒฉแƒแƒฆแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ลŸirniyyat

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ escoria

Etymology

The word 'riffraff' has its origins in the 16th century, derived from the French word 'rif raf', which was used to denote the dregs or refuse. The original sense of the term referred to a collection of discarded items or people who were considered worthless or of little value. Over time, it evolved to describe individuals who were seen as socially unfit or entrenched in a disreputable lifestyle. It reflects a societal tendency to categorize and judge people based on their social status and behavior. By the 19th century, the term was firmly established in English vernacular, often used in a derogatory manner to indicate individuals associated with lower-class behavior. The enduring usage of 'riffraff' in contemporary language highlights ongoing social dynamics and issues related to class and reputation.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,050, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.