Word forms: comparative spottier, superlative spottiest
1. adjective
Someone who is spotty has spots on their face.
She was rather pale, and her complexion was spotty.
Synonyms: pimply, pimpled, blotchy, poor-complexioned More Synonyms of spotty
2. graded adjective
Something that is spotty does not stay the same but is sometimes good and sometimes bad.
[US]
He quit in 1981–had a spotty political career.
His attendance record was spotty.
Synonyms: inconsistent, irregular, erratic, uneven More Synonyms of spotty
spotty in British English
(ˈspɒtɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -tier or -tiest
1.
abounding in or characterized by spots or marks, esp on the skin
a spotty face
2.
not consistent or uniform; irregular or uneven, often in quality
Derived forms
spottily (ˈspottily)
adverb
spottiness (ˈspottiness)
noun
spotty in American English
(ˈspɑti)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈspottier or ˈspottiest
1.
having, occurring in, or marked with spots
2.
not uniform or consistent; irregular, as in quality; uneven
Derived forms
spottily (ˈspottily)
adverb
spottiness (ˈspottiness)
noun
Examples of 'spotty' in a sentence
spotty
As a lotion it improves enlarged pores and spotty complexions.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
Why should anyone think that a company with so spotty an acquisitions record would get it right this time around?
Kantrow, Alan M. The Constraints of Corporate Tradition (1987)
They finally emerge as fat, spotty brown birds.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It may sound strange, but spotty attendance can provide a lot of interesting ministry opportunities within your group.
Christianity Today (2000)
It produces greasy, spotty skin and can cause dandruff because it most commonly occurs along the hairline and forehead.
The Sun (2015)
The record is so spotty that geologists are not sure whether areas near the equator or places nearer the poles were the coolest places on earth.
Levenson, Thomas Ice Time: Climate, Science, and Life on Earth (1990)
Attempts at tipping in this column have generally been confined to rash sorties into the complexities of horse racing form and the record is distinctly spotty.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Especially if the spotty youths are playing Autumn Leaves at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The singer's spotty skin shocked onlookers as it emerged she is to return to rehab, this time abroad.
The Sun (2008)
A spotty youth turned to his friend: 'Why not?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
On the night I call at his house, his spotty face and bleached hair greet me at the door.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He was obviously a highly sensitive adolescent and his overbearing father hurt him deeply by constantly teasing him about his spotty complexion and calling him'big nose '.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
spotty
British English: spotty /ˈspɒtɪ/ ADJECTIVE
Someone who is spotty has spots on their face.
She has a spotty complexion.
American English: spotty
Arabic: مَنَقَّط
Brazilian Portuguese: com muitas espinhas
Chinese: 多斑点的
Croatian: prištićav
Czech: uhrovitý
Danish: bumset
Dutch: puistig
European Spanish: moteado
Finnish: täplikäs
French: boutonneux
German: pickelig
Greek: διάστικτος
Italian: foruncoloso
Japanese: しみだらけの
Korean: 반점이 많은
Norwegian: flekkete
Polish: cętkowany
European Portuguese: borbulhento
Romanian: pistruiat
Russian: пятнистый
Latin American Spanish: moteado
Swedish: finnig
Thai: เต็มไปด้วยสิว
Turkish: sivilceli
Ukrainian: прищавий
Vietnamese: lốm đốm
Chinese translation of 'spotty'
spotty
(ˈspɔtɪ)
adj
(pimply) 多粉刺的 (duō fěncì de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
covered with spots or pimples
My skin gets spotty when I'm stressed.
Synonyms
pimply
pimpled
blotchy
blotchy marks on the leaves
poor-complexioned
plooky-faced (Scottish)
2 (adjective)
Definition
not consistent
His attendance record was spotty.
Synonyms
inconsistent
You are inconsistent and unpredictable.
irregular
She was suffering from an irregular heartbeat.
erratic
the erratic nature of our recent weather
uneven
He could hear that her breathing was uneven.
fluctuating
patchy
The wall looked patchy when the paint had dried.
sporadic
The sound of sporadic thunder could still be heard.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blotchy
blotchy marks on the leaves
Synonyms
spotty,
uneven,
patchy,
blemished,
macular
in the sense of erratic
Definition
irregular or unpredictable
the erratic nature of our recent weather
Synonyms
unpredictable,
variable,
unstable,
irregular,
shifting,
eccentric,
abnormal,
inconsistent,
uneven,
unreliable,
wayward,
capricious,
desultory,
changeable,
aberrant,
fitful,
inconstant
in the sense of irregular
Definition
not occurring at expected or equal intervals
She was suffering from an irregular heartbeat.
Synonyms
variable,
inconsistent,
erratic,
shifting,
occasional,
random,
casual,
shaky,
wavering,
uneven,
fluctuating,
eccentric,
patchy,
sporadic,
intermittent,
haphazard,
unsteady,
desultory,
fitful,
spasmodic,
unsystematic,
inconstant,
nonuniform,
unmethodical,
scattershot
Nearby words of
spotty
spotless
spotlight
spotted
spotty
spouse
spout
sprain
Synonyms of 'spotty'
spotty
Explore 'spotty' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of patchy
Definition
having or forming patches
The wall looked patchy when the paint had dried.
Synonyms
uneven,
irregular,
variegated,
spotty,
mottled,
dappled
in the sense of sporadic
Definition
happening at irregular intervals
The sound of sporadic thunder could still be heard.