lumpy

American  

[luhm-pee] / ˈlʌm pi /

adjective

lumpier, lumpiest

1. full of lumps.

   lumpy gravy.

2. covered with lumps, as a surface.

3. heavy or clumsy, as in movement or style; crude.

   a lumpy gait; a lumpy narrative.

4. (of water) rough or choppy.

---

lumpy British  

/ ˈlʌmpɪ /

adjective

1. full of or having lumps

2. (esp of the sea) rough

3. (of a person) heavy or bulky

---

Other Word Forms

• lumpily adverb
• lumpiness noun
• unlumpy adjective

Etymology

Origin of lumpy

First recorded in 1700–10; lump ¹ + -y ¹

Explanation

Lumpy things are uneven and full of bumps or chunks. While lumpy oatmeal might be good, a lumpy mattress can make it impossible to get a good night's sleep. It's easier to play a game of croquet on a smooth lawn, rather than a lumpy field full of bumps and holes. And you may find a silky bowl of chocolate pudding delicious, but be disgusted by the texture of a lumpy serving of tapioca pudding. The adjective lumpy, by way of the noun lump, comes from the Old English lumpe, from a Scandinavian root.

Example Sentences

Under the shade of a nearby tree in Kakwanyang village, three women sit together pounding wild brown fruits with a hard, rough and lumpy exterior.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

There are always broad themes that investors react to over the short term, and the stock market’s performance should be expected to be lumpy.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

“Mine was lumpy and sparkly,” said Jayna Zweiman, co-founder of the Pussyhat Project.

From Slate • Jan. 29, 2026

One reason for going private is that Soho House won’t be bound by quarterly earnings reports, which can lead to lumpy results, say people familiar with the company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

I beat Sneaky to the kitchen, and when I get there, I see a stack of pancakes on the table—golden brown, not burnt and lumpy like the ones Mama makes at Smoky Inn.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

Related Words

• bumpy
• chunky
• irregular