scummy

/ˈskʌmi/

//ˈskʌmi// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"scummy" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“scummy” is an uncommon English word, ranked #61,798 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#61,798
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Covered in scum.

Key facts for scummy
PropertyValue
Headwordscummy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈskʌmi/
Letters6
Frequency rank#61,798
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scummy” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). scummy lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for scummy is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈskʌmi/. Corpus data places it at rank #61,798 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for scummy in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From scum + -y. The correct English form is scummy, spelled S-C-U-M-M-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Covered in scum.
  2. 2
    sleazy, worthless, no good

Etymology

From scum + -y.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "scummy"?
"scummy" is spelled S-C-U-M-M-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈskʌmi/.
What does "scummy" mean?
As an adjective, "scummy" means: Covered in scum.
How do you pronounce "scummy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scummy" is /ˈskʌmi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "scummy"?
From scum + -y. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “scummy”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-C-U-M-M-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈskʌmi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list