What does sporadic mean?
Sporadic describes something that happens occasionally, irregularly, or in scattered instances rather than continuously, regularly, or as part of a systematic pattern. For example, a disease may produce sporadic cases without becoming an epidemic, while a person may make sporadic attempts to write despite having little free time. The word can imply unpredictability, but it does not necessarily mean rare: something may occur sporadically over a long period without appearing frequently. In formal and informal contexts, “sporadic” is useful for distinguishing an intermittent phenomenon from one that is regular or widespread. It is commonly paired with words such as “outbreaks,” “cases,” “occurrences,” and “efforts,” and it remains a standard term in both British and American English.
adjectiveOccurring at irregular intervals or only in scattered instances rather than continuously or according to a regular pattern.
- Happening occasionally or at irregular intervals rather than continuously or regularly.
- Present or found in scattered instances rather than being widespread or systematic.
"The disease has been linked to sporadic outbreaks in several parts of the country."
"There have been a number of sporadic cases of the illness, but no sustained outbreak."
"She made sporadic attempts to finish the report between other responsibilities."
Sporadic comes from a Greek word associated with scattered seed, evoking occurrences that arrive in scattered patches rather than in a steady stream.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sporadic come from?
The word comes from Latin sporadicus, a borrowing of Greek sporadikos, meaning scattered or dispersed. Greek sporadikos was associated with the idea of scattered sowing, derived from the language of seeds being scattered in different places. English adopted the adjective in the 17th century in medical and scientific contexts to describe diseases or conditions appearing in isolated cases, and it later broadened to describe anything occurring at irregular intervals.
Related word forms
How sporadic is actually used
Spoken and written English use is widespread. It often suggests an event or condition that recurs unpredictably, with quiet periods between occurrences; it can also describe isolated instances within a larger pattern.