spotty

[spot-ee]

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

spotty

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• spottiness noun
• spottily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of spotty¹

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

Example Sentences

She could not read Japanese and spoke it spottily.

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While alternative data on jobs was ubiquitous, price information was far spottier.

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With spotty data, the task force’s operations remain opaque, making it difficult to capture a complete picture of its work.

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They’ll be searching for the game on Cuban TV or on a spotty internet link.

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Medical care, she said, can be “very haphazard and spotty,” with prenatal appointments often not happening on schedule.

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Related Words

• erratic 
• patchy 
• sporadic 
• uneven