adj

sporadic

spuh-RAD-ihk

adj

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 notes

In plain EnglishHappening every now and then, without any regular pattern.

Easily confused with

sporadically

Common pairings

sporadic outbreaks sporadic gunfire sporadic attendance

more sporadic comparative, most sporadic superlative

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There was _____ gunfire in the distance throughout the night.

From Ancient Greek sporas, "scattered," via Medieval Latin sporadicus.

nomadic