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

Some spotty showers will be possible on Sunday ahead of our next cold front. —Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

Consumers have struggled to afford weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound due to spotty health insurance coverage. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026

After a spotty first half, USD outscored the Pilots 44-27 after the intermission. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2026

Rain chances will hold off until the afternoon with some light spotty showers at first before becoming more scattered as the evening marches on. —Mary Wasson, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 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