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Synonyms

patchy

American  
[pach-ee] / ˈpætʃ i /

adjective

patchier, patchiest

  1. characterized by or made up of patches.

  2. occurring in, forming, or like patches.

  3. of inconsistent or irregular quality, texture, etc.; not uniform.

    patchy acting; patchy areas of fog.
patchy British  
/ ˈpætʃɪ /

adjective

  1. irregular in quality, occurrence, intensity, etc

    a patchy essay

  2. having or forming patches

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of patchy

First recorded in 1790–1800; patch 1 + -y 1

Explanation

If you describe something as patchy, you mean it's uneven or irregular, like your patchy front lawn with brown spots scattered among the green tufts of grass. Patchy things can appear spotty or mottled in color, or feel rough and bumpy to the touch. If your dog gets fleas and scratches too much, his fur might be patchy. And, if the sky is speckled with clouds, it also looks patchy. You can also call something that's inconsistent patchy: "Your math homework is patchy — some days you do it all, and others you only answer one or two questions."

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Vocabulary lists containing patchy

Occasional

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Patchy regulation leaves few victims with legal recourse; even fewer have a devoted fan base to drown out fake images with coordinated “Protect Taylor Swift” posts.

From New York Times • Feb. 5, 2024

Patchy regulation and high energy usage have also prevented the spread of crypto as a means of payment.

From Reuters • Oct. 14, 2023

Patchy frost is possible Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.

From Seattle Times • May 9, 2022

Patchy fog will set in Wednesday, followed by cool temperatures in the high 60s, signaling the start to another cold snap through the weekend.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2022

Patchy fur stood tall down his curving spine.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.