regrettable tattoo
/rɪˈɡrɛtəbl tæˈtuː/
CommonA tattoo the person now wishes they hadn't gotten, usually due to poor design, outdated meaning, or changed circumstances.
Often a shared joke people bond over, or a cautionary story. Not always serious regret.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | my most regrettable tattoo is a tribal band i got at 18 from a guy who worked out of his garage | The person got a poorly conceived tattoo from an informal artist when they were young. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | i have a couple regrettable tattoos but they're part of the story i guess | The person has tattoos they don't love anymore but has made peace with them. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | getting an ex's name tattooed is the fastest way to get a regrettable tattoo | Tattooing a partner's name is commonly cited as a decision people later regret. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | found my most regrettable tattoo buried under a sleeve now. can't even see it anymore | The person covered up a tattoo they didn't like by building more tattoos around and over it. | instagram, 2023 |
Use it when
- Describing a tattoo the person no longer likes or feels embarrassed by.
- Joking about a bad decision made around getting tattooed.
- Telling a cautionary story about impulse tattoos.
Do not use it when
- You just don't like someone else's tattoo. That's their choice, not a regrettable one.
Origin and context
The available record does not yet include a verified origin summary.
- First seen
- unknown
- Confidence
- low
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/regrettable-tattooUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0