spotty

American  

[spot-ee] / ˈspɒt i /

adjective

spottier, spottiest

1. full of, having, or occurring in spots.

   spotty coloring.

2. irregular or uneven in quality or character.

   a spotty performance.

   Synonyms:

   episodic, sporadic, random, erratic

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spotty British  

/ ˈspɒtɪ /

adjective

1. abounding in or characterized by spots or marks, esp on the skin

   a spotty face

2. not consistent or uniform; irregular or uneven, often in quality

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Other Word Forms

• spottily adverb
• spottiness noun

Etymology

Origin of spotty

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at spot, -y ¹

Explanation

Something that's spotty is uneven or inconsistent, especially in quality. If you can never rely on your internet connection when you're trying to watch a movie, you can call the connection spotty. The spotty reporting of your local newspaper means that every once in a while it publishes a well-written, newsworthy article, but often it's not worth reading. And your spotty attention during biology class probably means you'll need extra review sessions before you take the final exam. You can also use this adjective to mean "spotted" or "covered with spots," like your spotty Dalmatian puppy.

Example Sentences

Passengers have long complained about spotty internet service in the air, and Starlink is positioning its business as one with far superior technology.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

"But young stars are so extremely spotty, active, and temperamental, that the Doppler method is a non-starter."

From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2026

Others lounge on spotty lawns near overflowing trash cans.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

When he wasn’t in Ukraine, he might be in Africa with spotty cellphone service.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Lack of sunshine'd made her spotty and pale.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Related Words

• erratic
• patchy
• sporadic
• uneven