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

In practice, though, information on insurers’ denial rates is still spotty and largely unavailable to the public, and, according to a KFF study of prior authorization requests under Medicare Advantage plans, nine in ten of the people who are denied coverage don’t appeal. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

But that enforcement has been spotty at times, and one investigation found that 87% of major universities were out of compliance. —Joel Mathis, theweek, 29 Nov. 2024

Sciortino has a spotty record with the Police Department, including three substantiated civilian complaints for pointing a gun and improperly entering and searching a premises back in October 2021. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 2024

Disease begins with an influenza-like illness including a high fever, weakness, sore throat, headache, body aches and sometimes a spotty red rash. —Mark Kortepeter, Forbes, 7 Oct. 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