patchier; patchiest
1
: marked by, consisting of, or diversified with patches
2
: irregular in appearance, makeup, or quality
patchily adverb
patchiness 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From mid-summer to fall when grubs are doing most of their feeding, patchy brown spots may appear on your lawn. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025 But many problems plague the path to India’s manufacturing boom, such as logistical bottlenecks, regulatory red tape, and patchy infrastructure in many regions. Nur Hikmah Md Ali, CNBC, 13 June 2025 In some cases, autoimmune disorders like alopecia areata can trick your immune system into attacking healthy body tissue, leading to patchy bald spots. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 23 May 2025 On more prosaic fronts, too, the film is patchy, with multiple subplots drifting erratically in and out of view, and an uneven quartet of central performances. Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for patchy

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of patchy was in 1583

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchy. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

patchy

adjective
patchier; patchiest
: consisting of or marked by patches : resembling patchwork

More from Merriam-Webster on patchy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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