sporadic

[ spuh-rad-ik ]

adjective

1. (of similar things or occurrences) appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional:

   sporadic renewals of enthusiasm.

   Antonyms: continuous

2. appearing in scattered or isolated instances, as a disease.
3. isolated, as a single instance of something; being or occurring apart from others.

   Synonyms: unconnected, separate

4. occurring singly or widely apart in locality:

   the sporadic growth of plants.

sporadic

/ spəˈrædɪk /

adjective

1. occurring at irregular points in time; intermittent

   sporadic firing

2. scattered; isolated

   a sporadic disease

Derived Forms

• spoˈradically, adverb
• spoˈradicalness, noun

Other Words From

• spo·rad·i·cal·ly adverb
• spo·rad·i·cal·ness noun
• spo·ra·dic·i·ty [spawr-, uh, -, dis, -i-tee], spo·ra·dism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporadic¹

First recorded in 1680–90; from Medieval Latin sporadicus, from Greek sporadikós, equivalent to sporad- (stem of sporás “strewn,” akin to sporá “sowing, seed”) + -ikos adjective suffix; spore, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporadic¹

C17: from Medieval Latin sporadicus, from Greek sporadikos, from sporas scattered; related to Greek speirein to sow; see spore

Example Sentences

As the final whistle was blown, there were some small sporadic boos around the stadium but that was a token gesture.

From BBC

“I would still call these sporadic animals or human infections, and there’s still no evidence of any human to human,” transmission, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

His campaign has relied on targeted advertising and sporadic outreach events to court African American voters — especially Black men — and has seen an uptick in support.

From Salon

The previously sporadic cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel escalated in October 2023 - when the Lebanese militant group fired at Israeli positions, in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.

From BBC

On 8 October 2023 - the day after the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen that triggered the war in Gaza - previously sporadic fighting between Hezbollah and Israel escalated.

From BBC

Related Words

• desultory
• fitful
• infrequent
• intermittent
• irregular
• isolated
• occasional
• random
• rare
• scattered
• spotty