‘Unkempt’ or ‘Unkept’: Which is Correct?

If you’ve been learning the language for a while, you might have seen both ‘unkempt’ and ‘unkept.’ You might have also wondered which one is correct. Well, we’ll go over that in this article. Plus, you’ll learn how to use the correct spelling of the word in a sentence.

Need a short answer? Here it is:

• ‘Unkempt’ is an adjective that means ‘not well-combed.’ It’s typically used to describe someone’s appearance, but it can also be used to describe an object sometimes.
• ‘Unkept’ is an adjective that means ‘not kept’ or ‘neglected,’ but it’s typically not used to describe people the way ‘unkempt’ is.

Remember not to use these phrases interchangeably because they mean different things. Plus, one isn’t even used to describe people, so that wouldn’t make much sense.

What Does Unkempt Mean?

The word ‘unkempt’ is very similar to ‘unkept,’ which is probably why a lot of people use them interchangeably, thinking that they mean the same thing.

The only difference between the words is an ‘m.’

However, ‘unkempt’ is typically used to describe a person, whereas ‘unkept’ is typically used to describe an object.

Their definitions are different too.

The former is an adjective that means ‘not well-combed.’ You might see it used to describe someone with messy hair or tattered clothing.

The latter is an adjective that means ‘not kept’ or ‘neglected.’

Someone’s house might be described as ‘unkept’ while the owner might be referred to as ‘unkempt.’ An ‘unkempt’ owner who lives in an ‘unkept’ house.

How to Use ‘Unkempt’ and ‘Unkept’ Correctly

To use these words correctly, keep in mind that ‘unkempt’ is an adjective used for a person, and ‘unkept’ is for objects.

In the last section, we mentioned an ‘unkempt’ person in an ‘unkept’ house.

Use that to remember which is the correct spelling of the word you’re trying to use.

Definition of ‘Unkempt’: What does 'Unkempt' Mean?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘unkempt’ as:

• Not combed, not neat (messy), rough, and unpolished.
• If you’re trying to say someone’s appearance looks rough or messy, you might say they look ‘unkempt.’

Definition of 'Unkept': What Does 'Unkept' Mean?

The same dictionary defines ‘unkept’ as:

• Not kept or neglected

A Brief History

The first known use of the word ‘unkept’ was in the 14^th century, and it meant the same thing it means today.

Pronunciation: How to Pronounce ‘Unkempt’ and ‘Unkept’

Are you unsure of how to pronounce these words?

Here’s a quick guide.

To pronounce ‘unkempt’ correctly, check out the phonetic spelling:

UN-KEMPT

To pronounce ‘unkept’ correctly, check out the phonetic spelling:

UN-KEPT

How to Use ‘Unkempt’ and ‘Unkept’ in a Sentence

Now that we know what both words mean and how to pronounce them correctly, let’s see some examples of using them in a sentence.

Unkept

• As of now, the city’s unkept buildings are up for foreclosure.
• The schools in our district are a bit unkept, but that’s because we don’t have the funding we need to turn things around. We need a lot of help.
• The park on the other side of town is so unkept. It’s no wonder no one wants to take their children there.
• Thanks for letting me know my yard looks so unkept. I didn’t even really notice.
• I’m unsure why my grandkids can’t keep the place in good shape. If I had known they wouldn't be grateful to keep it so unkept, I wouldn’t have passed it down to them.

Unkempt

• My neighbor has been unkempt for years. No one ever talks to her or interacts with her.
• I never leave the house looking unkempt. I always have a face full of makeup, and I’m always dressed my best.
• Everyone always says Mrs. Johnson is so unkempt, but she’s such a sweet soul to everyone she meets.
• There’s no excuse for looking unkempt in a house full of beauty queens. You can always ask us for help.
• I walk past Junior’s every day and see an unkept woman sitting in there alone.

Concluding Thoughts on ‘Unkempt’ and ‘Unkept’

To recap, we learned that:

• ‘Unkempt’ is an adjective, and it means ‘not well-combed.’ It’s usually used to describe someone’s messy appearance, but it can also be used to describe an object.
• ‘Unkept’ is an adjective, and it means ‘not kept’ or ‘neglected.’ It’s usually not used to describe people, though.

If you want your writing to be the best it can be, remember not to use these phrases interchangeably because they mean different things. It wouldn’t make much sense.

If you ever get stuck on anything, feel free to come back and review what you learned. We’ve also got a ton of other content in our library on confusing words and phrases you might see while learning English. Go check it out anytime.