patchy

[ pach-ee ]
/ ˈpætʃ i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR patchy ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, patch·i·er, patch·i·est.

characterized by or made up of patches.
occurring in, forming, or like patches.
of inconsistent or irregular quality, texture, etc.; not uniform: patchy acting; patchy areas of fog.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THESE WORDS FROM BROWN GIRL DREAMING!

Visualize yourself passing this quiz on words from Jacqueline Woodson’s exquisite verse novel “Brown Girl Dreaming,” and then take the quiz to prove you can do it! (Because you can.)
Question 1 of 10
What does “barren” mean?
a cylindrical wooden container with slightly bulging sides.
Worn down by dullness, tedious repetition.
unproductive; unfruitful
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of patchy

First recorded in 1790–1800; patch1 + -y1

OTHER WORDS FROM patchy

patch·i·ly, adverbpatch·i·ness, noun

Words nearby patchy

patch reef, patchstand, patch test, patch-up, patchwork, patchy, patd., pat-down, pate, -pated, pâté de foie gras
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to patchy

fitful, sketchy, uneven, erratic, irregular, random, variable, varying

Example sentences from the Web for patchy

British Dictionary definitions for patchy

patchy
/ (ˈpætʃɪ) /

adjective patchier or patchiest

irregular in quality, occurrence, intensity, etca patchy essay
having or forming patches

Derived forms of patchy

patchily, adverbpatchiness, noun
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