Definition
Careless and unsystematic; lacking neatness or precision. Can refer to messy appearance, poor workmanship, or liquid consistency.
Etymology
From 'slop' meaning spilled liquid, related to Middle English 'sloppe' meaning loose garment. The figurative sense of careless work developed from the image of spilled, messy liquids.
Kelly Says
Sloppy joe sandwiches got their name either from a cook named Joe in Havana, Cuba, or from their messy, dripping nature - food historians still debate! The word perfectly captures how messiness can be both undesirable and oddly endearing.
Translations
BNবাংলা
অসাবধান
o-sa-ba-dha-n
CACatalà
descuidado
des-kee-GAR-doh
CSČeština
nepořádný
neh-po-r-ad-nyy
DEDeutsch
schlampig
shlam-pig
ELΕλληνικά
απρόσεκτος
a-pro-sek-tos
ESEspañol
descuidado
des-kee-AR-doh
FAفارسی
بی دقت
bee-dee-kat
FISuomi
roskadottu
ro-sko-da-ttoo
FRFrançais
dégueulasse
day-goo-las
HEעברית
לא מסודר
lo ma-so-der
HIहिन्दी
लापरवाह
la-par-va-ah
IDBahasa Indonesia
berantakan
ber-an-ta-kan
ITItaliano
approssimativo
ap-proh-see-mah-tee-voh
JA日本語
雑然とした
zatsuren to tata
KMKM
មិនប្រើប្រាស់
min-b-ray-b-ra-s
MSBahasa Melayu
berantakan
ber-an-ta-kan
NLNederlands
slordig
sloor-dig
PLPolski
nieporządek
nee-por-zhah-dek
PTPortuguês
descuidado
des-kee-GAR-doh
RORomână
împecabil
im-peh-cah-bil
RUРусский
небрежный
ne-brezh-nyy
SVSvenska
slarvig
slar-vig
SWKiswahili
chafu
cha-foo
TAதமிழ்
அலட்சியமான
a-lak-shi-ya-maan
THไทย
เลอะเลเท
le-a le-te
TRTürkçe
dağınık
dah-yin-ik
UKУкраїнська
недбалий
ned-ba-liy
URاردو
غیر منظم
ghair man-zoom
VITiếng Việt
lơ lửng
lo loo-ng
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically applied asymmetrically to women and girls for appearance/behavior; coded feminine dismissal tied to stereotypes of women's housekeeping and emotional control.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'careless,' 'imprecise,' or 'unorganized' to describe actual shortcomings without gendered implication. Avoid labeling people; describe work quality.
Inclusive Alternatives
["careless","imprecise","unorganized","hasty"]