Raggedness is the quality of being torn, frayed, or uneven. When a favorite stuffed animal shows its raggedness after years of being hugged and dragged around, you can see the worn fabric, loose threads, and patches where the stuffing peeks through. An old flag flying outside a school might show raggedness at its edges, where wind and weather have torn small rips in the cloth.

The word describes more than just torn clothing or fabric. A mountain range might have a ragged skyline, with peaks jutting up at different heights instead of forming a smooth line. When someone breathes in a ragged way after running hard, their breath comes in uneven, gasping bursts. A ragged coastline has an irregular, jagged outline rather than a smooth curve.

Raggedness can also describe something that lacks polish or coordination. A beginning choir might perform with some raggedness, where singers don't quite start together or hold notes for the same length. With practice, that raggedness smooths out into harmony. The word captures that quality of being rough around the edges, whether literally torn like old jeans or figuratively uneven like a first attempt at something difficult.