spotted

adjective

spot·​ted ˈspä-təd 

1

: marked with spots

2

: being sullied : tarnished

3

: characterized by the appearance of spots

Synonyms

• dotted

Examples of spotted in a Sentence

the spotted tablecloth clashed with the stripes on the wallpaper

not surprisingly, the white cow and black bull had a spotted calf

Recent Examples on the Web

Remember, each drop can do this, so many times, the whole plant can look like a spotted mess. —Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025

There are two species: the striped cucumber beetle and the spotted cucumber beetle, which are both about 1/5-inch in length, either with three black stripes or 12 black spots on a yellowish to yellowish-green body. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 June 2025

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the spotted lanternfly can cause damage, including oozing sap, wilting, leaf curling and dieback to trees, crops, vines and other plants. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 29 July 2025

The spotted lanternfly enters the adult moth stage during the late summer and fall. —Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spotted

• northern spotted owl
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• spotted alfalfa aphid
• spotted cucumber beetle
• spotted dick
• spotted fever
• spotted hyena
• spotted knapweed
• spotted lantern fly
• spotted owl
• spotted salamander
• spotted sea trout
• spotted turtle
• two-spotted spider mite

Rhymes for spotted

• blotted
• clotted
• dotted
• jotted
• knotted
• plotted
• potted
• rotted
• slotted
• squatted
• swatted
• trotted

Kids Definition

spotted

adjective

spot·​ted

ˈspät-əd

: marked with spots

a spotted cat