untidiness

Everyday

1. Untidiness is the state of being messy and not in order, like a room with things everywhere. tree →
2. Untidiness can also mean messy work or appearance, like untidy handwriting or clothes. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday family life: arguments about untidiness in bedrooms. In school: untidiness in books and handwriting may lose marks for presentation. It tells the reader about a messy place or character.

Examples

• Mum complained about the untidiness of my room. tree →
• The teacher marked down the untidiness of my work. tree →
• His untidiness drove his sister mad. tree →
• The untidiness of the garden showed nobody lived there. tree →
• Untidiness on the stairs can cause falls. tree →
• She tried to fix the untidiness of her hair before the photo. tree →

Note

Uncountable. From «untidy» + «-ness»; y becomes i. Opposite: «tidiness». In safety, toys left on stairs are dangerous untidiness.