adjective
spotty
Spotty (adjective) means Uneven or unreliable in quality; good in some parts and poor in others. Example: “Cell coverage out here is pretty spotty.”
adjective
1
Uneven or unreliable in quality; good in some parts and poor in others.
"Cell coverage out here is pretty spotty."
"His attendance record was spotty at best."
2
Marked with spots.
"The teenager complained about his spotty skin."
How to use spotty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInconsistent or patchy — sometimes there, sometimes not — or literally covered in spots.
Common pairings
spotty coverage
spotty record
spotty skin
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Word forms
- Plural
- spotties
- Comparative
- spottier
- Superlative
- spottiest
Fill the gap
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Cell coverage out here is pretty _____.
Etymology
From Middle English spotty, built from spot plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for spotty
See all rhymes for spotty →Frequently asked questions
What does “spotty” mean?
The word “spotty” means uneven or unreliable in quality; good in some parts and poor in others. In plain terms, inconsistent or patchy — sometimes there, sometimes not — or literally covered in spots.
How do you use “spotty” in a sentence?
Here is “spotty” used in a sentence: “Cell coverage out here is pretty spotty.”
What part of speech is “spotty”?
“Spotty” is an adjective.
Where does the word “spotty” come from?
The word “spotty” comes from Middle English. From Middle English spotty, built from spot plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y".
How many meanings does “spotty” have?
“Spotty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: uneven or unreliable in quality; good in some parts and poor in others.
