ratchetness

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The quality of being ratchet.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The character’s appeal is universal though because she represents a feminist politics of disrespectability (what black American feminists call ratchetness) that has no time for prim notions of femininity as demure, quiet and self-effacing.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “ratchetness” mean?

The quality of being ratchet.

Is “ratchetness” formal or informal?

ratchetness is generally derogatory, slang.