What does "sporadic" mean?

The term "sporadic" refers to something that occurs irregularly and occasionally, which aligns perfectly with the notion of being scattered or not happening in a predictable pattern. In many contexts, "sporadic" is used to describe events or actions that happen at different times rather than in a continuous or uniform manner. This captures the essence of occurrences that are not consistent or regular, emphasizing their unpredictability.

For instance, one might refer to sporadic rainfall during a dry season, indicating that rain is infrequent and not continuous. Understanding this definition helps in recognizing how "sporadic" can effectively describe many real-life situations in which things happen at scattered intervals rather than in a regular or constant flow.