adj
C2
Proficient
patchy
PAT-shee
Patchy (adj) means occurring unevenly or in scattered patches, not consistent throughout. Example: “The weather forecast predicted patchy fog in the morning.”
adj
1
Occurring unevenly or in scattered patches, not consistent throughout.
"The weather forecast predicted patchy fog in the morning."
"His performance this season has been patchy at best."
How to use patchy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUneven — appearing in some spots but not others, or good in parts and poor in others.
Common pairings
patchy fog
patchy coverage
patchy performance
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Word forms
- Comparative
- patchier
- Superlative
- patchiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The weather forecast predicted _____ fog in the morning.
Etymology
From "patch" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."
Synonyms
View more →
stop-start
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for patchy
See all rhymes for patchy →Frequently asked questions
What does “patchy” mean?
The word “patchy” means occurring unevenly or in scattered patches, not consistent throughout. In plain terms, uneven — appearing in some spots but not others, or good in parts and poor in others.
How do you pronounce “patchy”?
“Patchy” is pronounced PAT-shee (/ˈpæt͡ʃi/ in IPA).
How do you use “patchy” in a sentence?
Here is “patchy” used in a sentence: “The weather forecast predicted patchy fog in the morning.”
What is another word for “patchy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “patchy” include stop-start.
What part of speech is “patchy”?
“Patchy” is an adjective.
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