piecemeal
PEES-meel
/ˈpiːs.miːl/
Characterized by unsystematic partial measures or gradual steps; done piece by piece.
Often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of a master plan or a fragmented approach.
The story behind the word. The 'meal' in piecemeal has nothing to do with food. It comes from the Old English 'mælum', meaning 'at a time' or 'by measure'. So, piecemeal literally means 'one piece at a time'.
Word relationships
- fragmentary: Fragmentary suggests something is broken or incomplete; piecemeal suggests the process of doing it bit by bit.
- comprehensive: Comprehensive means including everything; a total approach rather than bit-by-bit.
- holistic: Holistic looks at the whole system rather than individual pieces.
Commonly confused with
- phased: Phased is planned and orderly; piecemeal is often disorganized or reactive.
Collocations
- piecemeal fashion
- piecemeal reform
- piecemeal development
Example sentences
- "The government's piecemeal approach to the housing crisis has failed to address the root causes." Political criticism
- "The story was revealed piecemeal, with clues scattered across different chapters." Literature
Memory hook
Imagine eating a giant 'meal' one tiny 'piece' at a time because you don't have a fork. One bit at a time, no plan in mind.
When not to use
Avoid when describing a highly organized, well-planned sequence (use 'phased' instead).
Fun facts
- The word 'inchmeal' (meaning inch by inch) used to exist, famously used by Shakespeare in 'The Tempest'.
Related words
Explore more words
haphazard, sporadic, arbitrary, gradual, intermittent, analytical
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