Meaning & use

sporadic

adjective·Academic

Last updated

Occurring occasionally or at irregular intervals; not constant or regular.

See it in a sentence

There were sporadic bursts of applause throughout the speech.

Sporadic showers are expected throughout the afternoon.

A note on using this word

Useful for describing something that happens unpredictably, without a clear pattern, as opposed to 'periodic,' which implies some regularity.

Words with a similar meaning

intermittentoccasional

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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