spotted

adjective

spot·​ted ˈspä-təd 

1

: marked with spots

2

: being sullied : tarnished

3

: characterized by the appearance of spots

Synonyms of spotted

• 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

In short, the spotted lanternfly is a moth-like bug that's not supposed to be in the U.S. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Jan. 2026

This photo, made with a remote camera and provided by the University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center, shows a spotted jaguar in southern Arizona, Nov. 2025. —CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

The motifs appear everywhere: rows of toadstools atop the fireplace’s stone mantel; scientific illustrations mounted in thin wood frames on the walls; a set of upholstered ottomans in the shape of spotted, red-capped fly agarics—psychedelic perches fit for Alice’s Wonderland. —Laura May Todd, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2025

The famed pastry chef shared a photo of 4-year-old Josephine striking a fierce pose in an animal-print dress, along with spotted ears, paws and shoes to match, in an Instagram post on Saturday, Oct. 18. —Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 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 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