: sometimes successful and sometimes not : not reliably good or successful

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hit-and-miss was in 1897

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Cite this Entry

“Hit-and-miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit-and-miss. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

hit-and-miss

adjective
ˌhit-ᵊn-ˈmis
: sometimes successful and sometimes not : haphazard

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