Definition

In a way that happens occasionally or at irregular intervals, rather than continuously or regularly.

Example

The rain fell sporadically throughout the day, making it hard to plan outdoor activities.

Conversation

Do you ever see that band perform live?

I’ve only seen them sporadically at festivals.

Yeah, I wish they had more shows in our area.

Same here! It would be great to catch them more often.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sporadically → It is formed from "sporadikos" (from Greek, meaning scattered) and the suffix "-ally" (meaning in a manner). The word "sporadically" means occurring in a scattered or irregular manner.

Memory Tip

Think of events that happen 'scattered' ('sporadikos') and remember that 'sporadically' means they occur in an irregular way.

Visually Confused Words