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
Overnight, there may be a few spotty showers.
—
Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
Entry is free, but there are no signs or maps, and cellphone service is spotty .
—Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025
Rain and spotty storms are in the South Florida forecast, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 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
See All Example Sentences for spotty
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Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
Entry is free, but there are no signs or maps, and cellphone service is spotty .
—Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025
Rain and spotty storms are in the South Florida forecast, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 25 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
See All Example Sentences for spotty
Cite this Entry
“Spotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotty. Accessed 1 Dec. 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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