What does jagged mean?
Jagged describes an edge, surface, or outline that is sharply uneven, with points, notches, or abrupt breaks rather than a smooth contour. The word is especially associated with natural formations such as rocks, mountains, ice, and cliffs, but it can also describe broken metal, torn paper, or other irregular surfaces. Figuratively, a jagged experience or process may feel rough, painful, or full of abrupt transitions. Because jagged emphasizes the shape or quality of a sharp, irregular boundary, it is more precise than simply saying uneven in many physical contexts. It is also useful in figurative writing for suggesting that something is not smooth or resolved, as in a jagged relationship, a jagged memory, or jagged prose.
adjectiveHaving sharp, uneven points or projections; irregularly jagged. It can also describe something rough, difficult, or uneven in figurative use.
- Having sharp, irregular points or projections, especially along an edge or surface.
- Figuratively, rough, difficult, uneven, or unsettling in experience or character.
"The path narrowed into a series of jagged rocks."
"Wind-driven rain streaked across the jagged cliffs."
"She tried to smooth over the jagged history behind the seemingly perfect reunion."
Jagged captures the distinctive bite of an edge that is pointed rather than smooth, making it a useful word for describing broken metal, craggy mountains, and sharply irregular outlines.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of jagged
Jagged developed from the English word jag, which referred to a sharp point or notch, through the addition of the participial ending -ed. Jag itself has Old English roots related to projecting points or teeth, with cognate forms appearing in other Germanic languages. In later English, jagged came to describe edges and surfaces marked by sharp irregularities, and it gradually extended into figurative senses involving roughness and difficulty.
Related word forms
How jagged is actually used
The word is standard in both British and American English. Its figurative uses suggest roughness, difficulty, or abrupt emotional or narrative contrasts.