spot-on

American

[spot-on, awn] / ˈspɒtˈɒn, ˈɔn /

Or spot on

adjective

exactly right or accurate.

His spot-on impression of the popular politician had us all laughing.
Thanks go to our colleague, whose analysis of the situation was spot on.

spot-on British

adjective

informal absolutely correct; very accurate

your prediction was spot-on

"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

Etymology

Origin of spot-on

First recorded in 1935–40

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.

See Examples For:

spot-on

Michael Lindbeck, a retiree in Alaska who owns six Harleys and two Indians, said it was spot-on.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Some environmental scientists have flagged two parasiticides found in most spot-on treatments to kill fleas and ticks on cats and dogs, fipronil and imidacloprid, as toxic to wildlife.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026

If the forecast is spot-on, the annual increase in wholesale inflation would jump to 4.8% from 4% in the prior month, reflecting the highest rate since February 2023.

From MarketWatch ● May 11, 2026

"It was a challenging prediction, and we had to be spot-on," Barat says.

From Science Daily ● May 7, 2026

The lighting was just right, the shadows perfectly cast, the location spot-on.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023