adj
Uncommon
sporadic
spuh-RAD-ihk
Sporadic (adj) means happening occasionally and irregularly, with no clear pattern. Example: “There was sporadic gunfire in the distance throughout the night.”
adj
1
Happening occasionally and irregularly, with no clear pattern.
"There was sporadic gunfire in the distance throughout the night."
"His attendance at meetings has been sporadic at best."
How to use sporadic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHappening every now and then, without any regular pattern.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sporadic outbreaks
sporadic gunfire
sporadic attendance
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sporadic
- Superlative
- most sporadic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was _____ gunfire in the distance throughout the night.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek sporas, "scattered," via Medieval Latin sporadicus.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sporadic
See all rhymes for sporadic →Frequently asked questions
What does “sporadic” mean?
The word “sporadic” means happening occasionally and irregularly, with no clear pattern. In plain terms, happening every now and then, without any regular pattern.
How do you pronounce “sporadic”?
“Sporadic” is pronounced spuh-RAD-ihk (/spəˈɹæd.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sporadic” in a sentence?
Here is “sporadic” used in a sentence: “There was sporadic gunfire in the distance throughout the night.”
What part of speech is “sporadic”?
“Sporadic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sporadic” come from?
The word “sporadic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek sporas, "scattered," via Medieval Latin sporadicus.
Is “sporadic” a common word?
“Sporadic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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