lumpy

American  

[luhm-pee] / ˈlʌm pi /

adjective

lumpier, lumpiest

1. full of lumps.

   lumpy gravy.

2. covered with lumps, as a surface.

3. heavy or clumsy, as in movement or style; crude.

   a lumpy gait; a lumpy narrative.

4. (of water) rough or choppy.

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lumpy British  

/ ˈlʌmpɪ /

adjective

1. full of or having lumps

2. (esp of the sea) rough

3. (of a person) heavy or bulky

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Other Word Forms

• lumpily
  adverb
• lumpiness
  noun
• unlumpy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of lumpy

First recorded in 1700–10; lump ¹ + -y ¹

Explanation

Lumpy things are uneven and full of bumps or chunks. While lumpy oatmeal might be good, a lumpy mattress can make it impossible to get a good night's sleep. It's easier to play a game of croquet on a smooth lawn, rather than a lumpy field full of bumps and holes. And you may find a silky bowl of chocolate pudding delicious, but be disgusted by the texture of a lumpy serving of tapioca pudding. The adjective lumpy, by way of the noun lump, comes from the Old English lumpe, from a Scandinavian root.

Example Sentences

Accountants try to match big, lumpy investments with the yearslong income they produce by pretending the spending is stretched out.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Under the shade of a nearby tree in Kakwanyang village, three women sit together pounding wild brown fruits with a hard, rough and lumpy exterior.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

There are always broad themes that investors react to over the short term, and the stock market’s performance should be expected to be lumpy.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

This can strip away the effects of shorter-term moves in asset values, as well as the lumpy process of selling down past investments to harvest gains.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Abby blew on a lumpy spoonful of oatmeal.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Related Words

• bumpy
• chunky
• irregular