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 of spotty

• sporadic
• intermittent
• occasional
• erratic

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

Back to Wells Fargo, investor sentiment weakened following two consecutive spotty quarters. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 16 June 2026

Subway cars erupted in cheers as fans peeped the winning shot on their cellphones, their feeds interrupted at times by spotty underground reception. —ABC News, 13 June 2026

Morrissey has rarely played stateside festivals amid a spotty track record of canceling or postponing some 200 headlining appearances in the past decade-plus. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 10 June 2026

The hot and humid pattern is expected to continue through the end of the workweek, with spotty showers possible Thursday and Friday and highs remaining near 90 degrees. —Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spotty

• dotty
• doughty
• draughty
• haughty
• knotty
• naughty
• potty
• scottie
• strati
• zloty
• basmati
• bharati

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