sporadic
[ spuh-rad-ik ]
/ spəˈræd ɪk /
Save This Word!
adjective
(of similar things or occurrences) appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional: sporadic renewals of enthusiasm.
appearing in scattered or isolated instances, as a disease.
isolated, as a single instance of something; being or occurring apart from others.
occurring singly or widely apart in locality: the sporadic growth of plants.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!
In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”
Question 1 of 7
The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
Sometimes spo·rad·i·cal .
Origin of sporadic
OTHER WORDS FROM sporadic
spo·rad·i·cal·ly, adverbspo·rad·i·cal·ness, nounspo·ra·dic·i·ty [spawr-uh-dis-i-tee], /ˌspɔr əˈdɪs ɪ ti/, spo·ra·dism, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for sporadic
sporadic
/ (spəˈrædɪk) /
adjective
occurring at irregular points in time; intermittentsporadic firing
scattered; isolateda sporadic disease
Derived forms of sporadic
sporadically, adverbsporadicalness, nounWord Origin for sporadic
C17: from Medieval Latin sporadicus, from Greek sporadikos, from sporas scattered; related to Greek speirein to sow; see spore
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
Medical definitions for sporadic
sporadic
[ spə-răd′ĭk, spô- ]
adj.
Occurring at irregular intervals.
Occurring singly; not grouped.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.