sputtering

American  

[spuht-er-ing] / ˈspʌt ər ɪŋ /

noun

1. Engineering, Electronics. a process that uses ions of an inert gas to dislodge atoms from the surface of a crystalline material, the atoms then being electrically deposited to form an extremely thin coating on a glass, metal, plastic, or other surface.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unsputtering
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sputtering

First recorded in 1900–05; sputter + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

China’s economy has been sputtering for a years, with consumers especially reluctant to spend, hurting some of those companies.

From Barron's • May 31, 2026

GDP rebounded in the first quarter and grew at a solid 2% annual rate after sputtering at the end of last year.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

But what’s extra notable about the sputtering tech partnerships of the 2020s is how baldly they smack of desperation.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

Nike’s NKE -3.50%decrease; red down pointing triangle chief innovation officer is leaving the sneaker company after less than a year in the job, the company said, amid signs that its turnaround efforts are sputtering.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Shaking his head, sighing and sputtering, the King collapsed onto a throne carved from rock.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander