spottily
|spot-ti-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˈspɑːtɪli/
🇬🇧
/ˈspɒtɪli/
(spotty)
marked with spots
Etymology
'spottily' originates from English, specifically the adjective 'spotty' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'.
'spotty' developed from the noun 'spot' + the adjectival suffix '-y'; 'spot' comes from Old English 'spot' meaning 'stain' or 'speck', and adding '-ly' produced the adverb 'spottily'.
Initially it meant 'in a manner marked by spots or stains', but over time it evolved to include the sense 'in an uneven or intermittent manner' (i.e., not consistently).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner marked by spots or patches; irregularly or unevenly distributed.
Cellular coverage in the area is spottily available, so calls sometimes drop.
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Adverb 2
in a way that is spotty in quality; not consistent in performance or quality.
Her attendance has been spottily reliable this semester, making scheduling difficult.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/08 09:40