spo·rad·ic

[spuh-rad-ik]
adjective
1.
(of similar things or occurrences) appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; occasional: sporadic renewals of enthusiasm.
2.
appearing in scattered or isolated instances, as a disease.
3.
isolated, as a single instance of something; being or occurring apart from others.
4.
occurring singly or widely apart in locality: the sporadic growth of plants.
Also, spo·rad·i·cal.


Origin:
1680–90; < Medieval Latin sporadicus < Greek sporadikós, equivalent to sporad- (stem of sporás strewn, akin to sporá spore) + -ikos -ic

spo·rad·i·cal·ly, adverb
spo·rad·i·cal·ness, noun
spo·ra·dic·i·ty [spawr-uh-dis-i-tee, spohr-] , spo·ra·dism, noun


3. separate, unconnected.


1. continuous.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
sporadic (spəˈrædɪk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  occurring at irregular points in time; intermittent: sporadic firing
2.  scattered; isolated: a sporadic disease
 
[C17: from Medieval Latin sporadicus, from Greek sporadikos, from sporas scattered; related to Greek speirein to sow; see spore]
 
spo'radically
 
adv
 
spo'radicalness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

sporadic
1650s (implied in sporadical), from M.L. sporadicus "scattered," from Gk. sporadikos "scattered," from sporas (gen. sporados) "scattered," from spora "a sowing" (see spore). Originally a medical term, "occurring in scattered instances;" the meaning "happening at intervals"
is first recorded 1847. Related: Sporadically.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

sporadic spo·rad·ic (spə-rād'ĭk, spô-) or spo·rad·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)
adj.

  1. Occurring at irregular intervals.

  2. Occurring singly; not grouped.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Some of this public and political attention has been sporadic, but it is
  justified.
The pre-dawn ocean was violently churning and downpours of rain were sporadic.
Only a handful of places elsewhere in the world have sporadic cases, and
  vaccine campaigns are vigorous in those areas.
After a hesitant start, combat troops contained sporadic rioting, including
  pitched battles between red shirts and residents.
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