Ragtag

/ˈræɡtæɡ/
adjective

Not organized and not very good quality.

A ragtag group of musicians played at the street festival.
Visual representation of "ragtag" - Not organized and not very good quality

Often appears as...

  • ragtag group
  • ragtag team

Usage tips

Disapproving

Colloquial

noun

A group of people who are not organized or who do not all have the same type of life, job etc.

The procession was a ragtag of all sorts.
Visual representation of "ragtag" - A group of people who are not organized or who do not all have the same type of life, job etc.

Often appears as...

  • ragtag of misfits
  • ragtag of followers

Usage tips

Neutral

adjective

Not organized and not very good quality.

A ragtag group of musicians played at the street festival.
Visual representation of "ragtag" - Not organized and not very good quality

Often appears as...

  • ragtag group
  • ragtag team

Usage tips

Disapproving

Colloquial

noun

A group of people who are not organized or who do not all have the same type of life, job etc.

The procession was a ragtag of all sorts.
Visual representation of "ragtag" - A group of people who are not organized or who do not all have the same type of life, job etc.

Often appears as...

  • ragtag of misfits
  • ragtag of followers

Usage tips

Neutral

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "ragtag"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Casual Tone

Best used in informal settings, often to describe makeshift or improvised groups.

Illustration for Casual Tone
They formed a ragtag band for the local talent show.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Lacks Uniformity

Implies diversity within a group, without a unifying appearance or purpose.

Illustration for Lacks Uniformity
The school's drama club was a ragtag bunch of students.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Perceived Quality

Could suggest lower quality or lack of sophistication in the group's abilities or resources.

Illustration for Perceived Quality
Their ragtag equipment barely worked, but their spirit was strong.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Casual Tone

Best used in informal settings, often to describe makeshift or improvised groups.

Illustration for Casual Tone
They formed a ragtag band for the local talent show.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Lacks Uniformity

Implies diversity within a group, without a unifying appearance or purpose.

Illustration for Lacks Uniformity
The school's drama club was a ragtag bunch of students.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Perceived Quality

Could suggest lower quality or lack of sophistication in the group's abilities or resources.

Illustration for Perceived Quality
Their ragtag equipment barely worked, but their spirit was strong.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Casual Tone

Best used in informal settings, often to describe makeshift or improvised groups.

Illustration for Casual Tone
They formed a ragtag band for the local talent show.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Lacks Uniformity

Implies diversity within a group, without a unifying appearance or purpose.

Illustration for Lacks Uniformity
The school's drama club was a ragtag bunch of students.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Perceived Quality

Could suggest lower quality or lack of sophistication in the group's abilities or resources.

Illustration for Perceived Quality
Their ragtag equipment barely worked, but their spirit was strong.
Visual representation of the word "Ragtag"

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Video examples

Jimmy Wales: How a...

all the other growth before that So the servers are managed by a ragtag band of volunteers. All the editing is done by volunteers. And the way that we're organized is not like any traditional organization you can imagine. People are always asking, "Well, who's in charge of this?" or "Who does that?"

Video examples

Lucy in the Sky with...

two major movies hit theaters both featuring killer impacts from outer space in armageddon bruce willis leads a ragtag crew to nuke an oncoming asteroid which by the way is something that only works in the movies and in deep impact president morgan freeman gives a rousing speech after

Video examples

The most successful...

So they commissioned Guangzhou’s pirates to raid the coast and join the fight against their enemies. Serving their Vietnamese patrons turned the Zhengs and other pirates from ragtag gangs aboard single vessels into professional privateer fleets

Video examples

Jimmy Wales: How a...

all the other growth before that So the servers are managed by a ragtag band of volunteers. All the editing is done by volunteers. And the way that we're organized is not like any traditional organization you can imagine. People are always asking, "Well, who's in charge of this?" or "Who does that?"

Video examples

Lucy in the Sky with...

two major movies hit theaters both featuring killer impacts from outer space in armageddon bruce willis leads a ragtag crew to nuke an oncoming asteroid which by the way is something that only works in the movies and in deep impact president morgan freeman gives a rousing speech after

Video examples

The most successful...

So they commissioned Guangzhou’s pirates to raid the coast and join the fight against their enemies. Serving their Vietnamese patrons turned the Zhengs and other pirates from ragtag gangs aboard single vessels into professional privateer fleets

Example 1 of 3

Quote examples

Scott Turow

American Novelist

I tend to start with a kernel, a vague concept, and just begin to write things down - notes about a character, lines of dialogue, descriptive passages about a place. One idea fires another. I do that for about a year. By then there's a story, and I'll go on to a complete first draft that sews many of those ragtag pieces together.
Portrait of Scott Turow

Quote examples

Alexandra Petri

American Journalist

I majored in extracurriculars, honestly. I joined the Harvard Stand Up Comedy Society, which is a ragtag band of misfits. I wrote for 'On Harvard Time,' which was a student TV show trying to be 'The Daily Show.' And I wrote a humor column for 'The Crimson' starting my sophomore year.
Portrait of Alexandra Petri

Quote examples

Jason Schreier

A great JRPG captures that feeling of going on an unusual adventure, of bringing a ragtag group of heroes from famine to fortune or steering cold-hearted villagers away from indifference.
Portrait of Jason Schreier

Quote examples

Marshall Curry

American Director

I've often thought even ragtag gatherings of documentary filmmakers are more fun than gatherings of fiction filmmakers.
Portrait of Marshall Curry

Quote examples

Scott Turow

American Novelist

I tend to start with a kernel, a vague concept, and just begin to write things down - notes about a character, lines of dialogue, descriptive passages about a place. One idea fires another. I do that for about a year. By then there's a story, and I'll go on to a complete first draft that sews many of those ragtag pieces together.
Portrait of Scott Turow

Quote examples

Alexandra Petri

American Journalist

I majored in extracurriculars, honestly. I joined the Harvard Stand Up Comedy Society, which is a ragtag band of misfits. I wrote for 'On Harvard Time,' which was a student TV show trying to be 'The Daily Show.' And I wrote a humor column for 'The Crimson' starting my sophomore year.
Portrait of Alexandra Petri

Quote examples

Jason Schreier

A great JRPG captures that feeling of going on an unusual adventure, of bringing a ragtag group of heroes from famine to fortune or steering cold-hearted villagers away from indifference.
Portrait of Jason Schreier

Quote examples

Marshall Curry

American Director

I've often thought even ragtag gatherings of documentary filmmakers are more fun than gatherings of fiction filmmakers.
Portrait of Marshall Curry
Example 1 of 4
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