patchy C2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈpæt͡ʃi/ See IPA manual Freq #48595 Meanings 1 adj Good in some parts but not in others; uneven in quality His knowledge of history is rather patchy. 2 adj Happening or appearing in separate areas rather than everywhere; not continuous The forecast warns of patchy fog in the morning. Thesaurus Synonyms 2 adj · happening or appearing in... spasmodic More discontinuousstop-start Word family Forms patchierpatchiest Derived forms patchilypatchiness Common collocations patchy fog Adjective + noun Etymology AI details From patch + -y. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # patchy **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈpæt͡ʃi/ **Frequency rank:** 48595 ## Meanings 1. Good in some parts but not in others; uneven in quality 2. Happening or appearing in separate areas rather than everywhere; not continuous ## Examples - His knowledge of history is rather patchy. - The forecast warns of patchy fog in the morning. ## Synonyms - discontinuous - stop-start ## Derived Forms - patchily - patchiness ## Etymology From patch + -y. ## AI Etymology Patchy is from patch + -y. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Current senses include good in some parts but not in others; uneven in quality and happening or appearing in separate areas rather than everywhere; not continuous. The wider family includes derived forms such as patchily and patchiness. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown