sporadic
spuh-RAD-ik
/spəˈrædɪk/
Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.
Emphasizes the randomness and lack of pattern more than 'intermittent'.
The story behind the word. From the Greek word for 'scattered,' which comes from 'spora' (seed). Think of seeds being thrown by hand—they land in random, scattered spots.
Word relationships
- occasional: 'Occasional' is milder; 'sporadic' often implies something that should be more frequent but isn't.
- frequent: 'Frequent' means happening often and regularly.
Commonly confused with
- intermittent: 'Intermittent' is like a blinking light; 'sporadic' is like a light that turns on once today and twice next week.
Word family
- sporadically (adverb): In a scattered or random way.
Collocations
- sporadic fighting
- sporadic success
- sporadic interest
Example sentences
- "Despite the peace treaty, there were still sporadic outbreaks of violence in the countryside." Occasional violence.
- "His attendance at the gym was sporadic at best, usually only once every few weeks." Inconsistent effort.
Memory hook
Think of 'spores' from a mushroom—they drift and land 'sporadically' in random places. Scattered like seeds.
When not to use
Not for something that has a clear, repeating rhythm.
Fun facts
- The Sporades are a group of islands in Greece, named because they are 'scattered' across the Aegean Sea.
Related words
Explore more words
haphazard, idiosyncratic, synchronicity, piecemeal, skirmish
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