spottier; spottiest
2
: lacking uniformity especially in quality
the performance was spotty
also
: irregularly or sparsely distributed
spotty attendance
spotty data
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
Given the Patriots’ spotty depth at safety, Las Vegas figures to attack early and often through Bowers and potentially Jeanty, a capable pass-catching back.
—
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Recently, fans and the media have been focusing more on him due to his recurring mistakes, apparently caused by carelessness with and without the ball, as well as his spotty health record.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
In recent years, local transit agencies have increasingly adopted hydrogen fuel cell buses, and thousands of California drivers have bought personal hydrogen cars, though fuel availability has proved spotty.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Downtown Cumberland has recently been renovated and now has great Wi-Fi, but cell service can still be spotty in some areas, especially in the state parks or out on the trails.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
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Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Recently, fans and the media have been focusing more on him due to his recurring mistakes, apparently caused by carelessness with and without the ball, as well as his spotty health record.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
In recent years, local transit agencies have increasingly adopted hydrogen fuel cell buses, and thousands of California drivers have bought personal hydrogen cars, though fuel availability has proved spotty.
—Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Downtown Cumberland has recently been renovated and now has great Wi-Fi, but cell service can still be spotty in some areas, especially in the state parks or out on the trails.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotty. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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