spotty

adjective

spot·​ty ˈspä-tē 

spottier; spottiest

1

: marked with spots : spotted

2

: lacking uniformity especially in quality

the performance was spotty

also : irregularly or sparsely distributed

spotty attendance

spotty data

spottily

ˈspä-tə-lē 

adverb

spottiness

ˈspä-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• aperiodic
• casual
• catchy
• choppy
• discontinuous
• episodic
• episodical
• erratic
• fitful
• intermittent
• irregular
• occasional
• spasmodic
• spastic
• sporadic
• unsteady

Examples of spotty in a Sentence

Her work has been spotty.

The service at that restaurant is a little spotty.

students with spotty attendance records

Recent Examples on the Web

The problem is his accuracy, mechanics and decision making have been spotty, at best. —Rob Reischel, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024

While the four-block downtown has been reinvigorated, the surrounding neighborhoods are spotty. —Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2024

The route consists mainly of dirt and gravel roads, and cell service is spotty. —Bryan Rogala, Outside Online, 14 Sep. 2024

There were some technical difficulties at first — sound would be spotty, streams would cut out. —Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spotty

adjective

spot·​ty ˈspät-ē 

spottier; spottiest

1

: having spots

2

: not always the same especially in quality

your work has been spotty

spottily

ˈspät-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

spottiness

ˈspät-ē-nəs 

noun