Tatter means to tear something into shreds or ragged pieces, or to become worn and torn. When a flag has been flying outside through years of storms and wind, it starts to tatter at the edges, with threads coming loose and fabric splitting apart. An old stuffed animal might be in tatters after years of being hugged and dragged around.

You'll often see this word describing cloth or paper that's been damaged by age, weather, or rough handling. A ship's sail might tatter during a violent storm. A poster on a classroom wall might hang in tatters after someone accidentally ripped it. When something is tattered, it looks ragged and torn, usually showing lots of use or rough treatment.

The word can also describe clothes worn by someone very poor. In stories, you might read about a character dressed in tattered rags, meaning their clothing is so worn out it's falling apart. While we don't usually use the word to describe people in real life (it can sound unkind), it's common in historical fiction and fairy tales.