adjective
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abounding in or characterized by spots or marks, esp on the skin
a spotty face
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not consistent or uniform; irregular or uneven, often in quality
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing spotty
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.
Spotty enforcement leaves them to fend for themselves.
From Washington Post • Dec. 19, 2022
Spotty showers will taper off through Thursday evening.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2022
Spotty implementation might be the result of a combination of factors.
From Salon • Nov. 23, 2022
Spotty records suggest the lone star ticks’ range is expanding, he says, “but we lack high-quality rigorous data on where they are and how quickly they’re moving.”
From Scientific American • May 23, 2022
The other kid, who thought Fufi was Spotty, had to watch his mother sell the dog he thought was his.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
