sporadic
pronunciation
How to pronounce sporadic in British English:
UK [spəˈrædɪk]
How to pronounce sporadic in American English:
US [spəˈrædɪk]
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- Adjective:
- recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
Word Origin
- sporadic
- sporadic: [17] Sporadic means etymologically ‘scattered like seed’. It comes via medieval Latin sporadicus from Greek sporadikós, a derivative of the adjective sporás ‘scattered’. This was formed from the same base as produced sporá ‘act of sowing, seed’, ancestor of English diaspora [19] (etymologically ‘dispersal’) and spore [19]. And both were related to speírein ‘sow’, source of English sperm.=> diaspora, sperm, spore
- sporadic (adj.)
- 1680s, from Medieval Latin sporadicus "scattered," from Greek sporadikos "scattered," from sporas (genitive sporados) "scattered, dispersed," from spora "a sowing" (see spore). Originally a medical term, "occurring in scattered instances;" the meaning "happening at intervals" is first recorded 1847. Related: Sporadical (1650s); sporadically.
Example
- 1. There have been other sporadic clashes with police .
- 2. Exercise was sporadic and mild .
- 3. Sporadic but sensational taliban attacks continue in the north and in kabul .
- 4. Sporadic violence persists across the country , especially in the east .
- 5. Several deaths were reported during sporadic clashes across the country .