lumpy

American  

[luhm-pee] / ˈlʌm pi /

adjective

lumpier, lumpiest

1. full of lumps: lump.

   lumpy gravy.

2. covered with lumps, lump, 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.

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lumpy British  

/ ˈlʌmpɪ /

adjective

1. full of or having lumps

2. (esp of the sea) rough

3. (of a person) heavy or bulky

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Other Word Forms

• lumpily adverb
• lumpiness noun
• unlumpy adjective

Etymology

Origin of lumpy

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

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

Aircraft orders are lumpy from month to month and the planes take a few years to build.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

The key was the commercial revenue more than doubling, showing it isn’t reliant on lumpy government contracts.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

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

From Slate • Jan. 29, 2026

I remembered Ma groaning Give me strength as Toby turned up his nose at anything but lumpy porridge.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

Related Words

• bumpy
• chunky
• irregular