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

The selection of Morrissey as a headliner is bound to raise eyebrows following a spotty track record of canceling or postponing some 200 headlining appearances in the past decade-plus. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 Apr. 2026

Rather than carry over the momentum from Sunday, the Sabres gradually sagged due to spotty goaltending and an anemic power play. —ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026

Temperatures will increase slightly later this week as high temperatures climb into the low 80s on Friday and Saturday with spotty showers possible. —Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

As the Avenue of the Giants has spotty cell service, visitors should preload the route onto the maps app of their choice. —Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 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