What does gappy mean?
Gappy is an adjective meaning that something has gaps, openings, or spaces between its parts. It may describe a physical arrangement—a fence with missing boards, a row of teeth with uneven spacing, or a surface broken by holes. In more figurative use, gappy can characterize writing, data, or an explanation that is patchy, discontinuous, or incomplete, often suggesting uneven quality or gaps in coverage. The word is especially common in British English, though it is understood in American English as well. It is usually informal or descriptive rather than highly formal. A gappy smile is another familiar use, referring to visible spaces between the teeth. The word's directness makes it useful: instead of saying something is uneven or incomplete, gappy quickly points to the missing pieces themselves.
Having gaps, openings, or spaces between parts; unevenly spaced or arranged.
"The gappy fence let the children squeeze through, but it was clearly due for repair."
Common in British English and also used in American English, especially in informal descriptive contexts.
Characterized by breaks, missing elements, or lack of continuity, especially in writing, data, or coverage.
"Her account of the negotiations was informative but gappy, leaving out several important developments."
This is a figurative extension of the literal sense and often implies unevenness or incomplete coverage.
Gappy is the gap in its Sunday best: it simply means the parts do not quite meet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of gappy
Gappy is a derivative of gap, formed with the suffix -y. Gap is an Old Norse borrowing, while related forms such as gape and gaping belong to the same Germanic vocabulary of openings and yawning. The shared idea is an opening or separation, which gappy develops into a description of something full of gaps.
Related word forms
How gappy is actually used
Usually informal or descriptive rather than highly formal. It is especially common in British English; figurative use often carries the connotation of unevenness, incompleteness, or patchy coverage.