patchy

adjective

ˈpa-chē How to pronounce patchy (audio)
patchier; patchiest
Synonyms of patchynext
1
: marked by, consisting of, or diversified with patches
2
: irregular in appearance, makeup, or quality
patchily
ˈpa-chə-lē How to pronounce patchy (audio)
adverb
patchiness
ˈpa-chē-nəs How to pronounce patchy (audio)
noun

Examples of patchy in a Sentence

The lawn is kind of patchy this year. Patchy fog made driving difficult. His knowledge of the language is patchy. She has only a patchy understanding of his condition.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Regardless of the patchy progress on some of Saudi’s most ambitious projects, visitors will see a country barely recognizable from the recent past. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 29 July 2026 The club’s talismanic captain is in the twilight of his career and Gomez’s patchy fitness record is a concern, while Jacquet and Leoni are both highly regarded but young and unproven in English football. — James Pearce, New York Times, 25 July 2026 Did anyone else think Andriy and Bobby’s explanation of what happened in the workroom felt patchy too? — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026 This can lead to a patchy lawn appearance with taller and shorter lengths of grass. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for patchy

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of patchy was in 1583

Rhymes for patchy

See All Rhymes for patchy

Browse Nearby Words

patchwork quilt
patchy
patd
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchy. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

patchy

adjective
ˈpach-ē How to pronounce patchy (audio)
patchier; patchiest
: consisting of or marked by patches : resembling patchwork

More from Merriam-Webster on patchy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for patchy

Nglish: Translation of patchy for Spanish Speakers

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