patchy

adjective

ˈpa-chē 

patchier; patchiest

1

: marked by, consisting of, or diversified with patches

2

: irregular in appearance, makeup, or quality

patchily

ˈpa-chə-lē 

adverb

patchiness

ˈpa-chē-nəs 

noun

Examples of patchy in a Sentence

The lawn is kind of patchy this year.

Patchy fog made driving difficult.

His knowledge of the language is patchy.

She has only a patchy understanding of his condition.

Recent Examples on the Web

The bet the whole flood control system is making on a super El Niño — to be able to carefully manage and control the flow of water without getting stuck — runs across this patchy, difficult-to-farm ground. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2026

For example, some homeowners overseed a patchy warm-season lawn with a cool-season grass in the fall. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

The country has a patchy maritime safety record, and many previous ferry disasters have been linked to overcrowding, rough weather and lax enforcement of safety regulations. — CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Yet since 2020, having churned through four sporting director-type figures, Liverpool’s record on transfers and player retention has been patchy at best. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for patchy

• catchy
• scratchy
• apache
• malachi

Kids Definition

patchy

adjective

ˈpach-ē 

patchier; patchiest

: consisting of or marked by patches : resembling patchwork