spottier; spottiest
2
: lacking uniformity especially in quality
the performance was spotty
also
: irregularly or sparsely distributed
spotty attendance
spotty data
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
For Thanksgiving next Thursday, the NEXT Weather team is calling for spotty showers and highs in the low 80s.
—
Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
While most of California and the broader Southwest is forecast to remain dry from late Monday into the holiday, coastal regions of the Northwest and Northern California could encounter persistent low clouds and spotty rain.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Although insurers broadly cover Ozempic as a treatment for diabetes, coverage of Wegovy for weight loss is much spottier, in part because of the drug’s price.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, Rudy is no athlete, his academic record is spotty, and his family can’t afford to send him to college.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
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Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
While most of California and the broader Southwest is forecast to remain dry from late Monday into the holiday, coastal regions of the Northwest and Northern California could encounter persistent low clouds and spotty rain.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Although insurers broadly cover Ozempic as a treatment for diabetes, coverage of Wegovy for weight loss is much spottier, in part because of the drug’s price.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, Rudy is no athlete, his academic record is spotty, and his family can’t afford to send him to college.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotty. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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