adjective
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irregular in quality, occurrence, intensity, etc
a patchy essay
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having or forming patches
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of patchy
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."
Vocabulary lists containing patchy
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
Pettis was joined afterwards in the cage by interim champion Patchy Mix, setting up a unification bout between the pair.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2023
Patchy information about Baluchistan, at the local, national, and international level, means accurate and up-to-date figures are scarce.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 21, 2022
Patchy stubble and acne dotted the young Bedouin’s cheeks.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
