patchy

[pach-ee]

adjective

patchier, patchiest 

1. characterized by or made up of patches. patch.

2. occurring in, forming, or like patches. patch.

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

   patchy acting; patchy areas of fog.

patchy

/ ˈpætʃɪ /

adjective

1. irregular in quality, occurrence, intensity, etc

   a patchy essay

2. having or forming patches

Other Word Forms

• patchily adverb
• patchiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of patchy¹

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

Example Sentences

Mrs Harman said the support after diagnosis was "very limited and very patchy" which could lead to feeling "really lonely".

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Many of the interviewees say that there is still the option of being connected to mobile data - but that this is far too expensive for most, and that connectivity is patchy.

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"Support teams who have this specific experience is very patchy," she added.

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Many say despite guidelines issued for more than a year, enforcement remains patchy.

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The miscounting was attributed to patchy record-keeping and suspicions that some families may have tried to hide the deaths of elderly relatives in order to claim their pensions.

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Related Words

• erratic 
• fitful 
• irregular 
• sketchy 
• uneven