Unkempt means messy, untidy, or not properly cared for. When something is unkempt, it looks like nobody has bothered to tidy it up or maintain it. An unkempt lawn grows wild with tall grass and weeds, while an unkempt room has clothes strewn across the floor and books piled everywhere.

The word most often describes personal appearance. Someone with unkempt hair hasn't brushed or combed it, so it sticks out in all directions or hangs in tangles. An unkempt beard grows scraggly and uneven, without trimming or grooming.

Unkempt suggests neglect rather than a brief moment of messiness. Your hair might get mussed up from playing outside, but that's different from being unkempt, which implies a longer-term lack of care. A garden doesn't become unkempt after one day of not weeding; it happens gradually when nobody tends to it for weeks.