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

Thursday and Friday look mild and quieter overall, with a few spotty rain chances. —Joseph Dames, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

After 400 feet, reception was spotty, and at 500 feet there was no response at all. —John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026

Schools check kids’ vision, but follow-up is spotty State law requires schools to periodically check kids’ vision starting in kindergarten. —Kristen Hwang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026

Morrissey has rarely played stateside festivals amid a spotty track record of canceling or postponing some 200 headlining appearances in the past decade-plus. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 31 Mar. 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