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

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

patchier comparative, patchiest superlative

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The weather forecast predicted _____ fog in the morning.

Etymology

From "patch" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."

Synonyms

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stop-start

Rhymes for patchy

catchy scratchy

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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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