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

Among the small-cap stocks that have seen the biggest gains this year, most have one thing in common: a spotty or nonexistent track record of profitability.

Read more on MarketWatch

Carmakers argue the EV business model is an unprofitable proposition given still-high battery costs, spotty car-charging networks and dwindling government subsidies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Wi-Fi in my building was spotty at best, so I made the campus library my office, spreading out back issues of “Martha Stewart Living” and stacks of cookbooks across a long wooden table.

Read more on Salon

The tragedy has hit hard in the close-knit town, where cell service is spotty and a gas station - adorned with a Confederate flag centrepiece - is the local watering hole.

Read more on BBC

Bucksnort is a close-knit town where the cell service is spotty and a gas station - adorned with a Confederate flag centrepiece - is the local watering hole, residents say.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• erratic 
• patchy 
• sporadic 
• uneven