sporadic
Say it: spuh-RAD-ik /spəˈrædɪk/ · adjective
What “sporadic” means
Happening now and then, without a regular pattern.
More precisely: Happening occasionally and irregularly, not in a steady pattern.
When to use it
For events that happen occasionally with uneven gaps between them. Slightly formal, useful when describing visits, showers or bursts of activity.
Memory trick
Greek sporadikos means scattered: picture isolated events with uneven gaps between them.
Similar words
occasional, irregular, scattered
Where it comes from
From Greek sporadikos, "scattered."
Quick check
A neighbour visits once in spring, twice in July, then disappears until winter. Which word describes these visits?
regular or sporadic?
Show the answer
sporadic
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