Quick answer
Riffraff means disreputable, undesirable, or low-status people viewed with contempt. It is usually pronounced , and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Riffraff
Riffraff means disreputable, undesirable, or low-status people viewed with contempt. It belongs to compound oddballs and repetitive words and works best in comic lists, children’s language, and places where sound matters as much as meaning. It is still understandable today, but it usually sounds more vivid and deliberate than ordinary modern vocabulary.
At a glance
compound-wordreduplicativeplayful
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, riffraff refers to disreputable, undesirable, or low-status people viewed with contempt. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Riffraff feels absurd because its repeated sounds give it a bounce or wobble that makes the word feel half descriptive and half sound effect.
Origin and history
Riffraff is generally traced to origin uncertain. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Riffraff is uncommon today, but it still makes sense to modern readers because the tone and meaning come across quickly once you see it in context.
Example sentences
- The column dismissed the whole rumor as riffraff.
- In the novel, one riffraff is enough to derail the dinner party.
- She used riffraff in the essay because the plain modern word felt too bland.
- The teacher paused to explain riffraff before asking the class to use it in context.
- They kept repeating riffraff because the sound of it was almost as memorable as the meaning.
When should you use this word?
Use riffraff when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in comic lists, children’s language, and places where sound matters as much as meaning.
Similar words
argle-bargle, bibble-babble, claptrappery, clink-clank, dilly-dally
Opposite or contrasting words
plain speech, technical precision, literal wording
Common questions
- What does riffraff mean? disreputable, undesirable, or low-status people viewed with contempt.
- How do you pronounce riffraff? It is commonly pronounced .
- Is riffraff still used today? Riffraff is uncommon today, but it still makes sense to modern readers because the tone and meaning come across quickly once you see it in context.
- When should you use riffraff? Use riffraff when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in comic lists, children’s language, and places where sound matters as much as meaning.
- What words are similar to riffraff? Similar words include argle-bargle, bibble-babble, claptrappery, and clink-clank.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.