Definition

A person who is often messy or careless about their appearance and cleanliness.

Example

He is such a sloven that he rarely takes the time to clean his room.

Conversation

Did you see how messy Jake's room was yesterday?

Yeah, I can't believe he's such a sloven when it comes to cleaning.

It's surprising because he always looks well put together outside.

Right? You'd think he'd want his space to look nice too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sloven comes from the Middle English 'sloven' (meaning a careless or untidy person), which is derived from the Old English 'slōfan' (meaning to be careless or negligent). The word originally described someone who is not careful about their appearance or habits.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'careless' or 'untidy' — that's what a sloven is, someone who doesn't pay attention to their appearance.

Visually Confused Words