Sporadic

Adjective

Definition: Occurring at irregular intervals; not constant or regular.

Synonyms: Intermittent, Occasional, Infrequent

Antonyms: Regular, Continuous, Constant

Examples:

The sporadic rain showers disrupted our plans for a picnic.
He has sporadic episodes of productivity followed by periods of laziness.

Mnemonics:

Think of "sporadic" as "sporadic rain" - rain that comes and goes irregularly.

Etymology:

Origin:

The word "sporadic" originated from the Greek word "sporadikos," meaning "scattered" or "dispersed."

Historical Usage:

The term "sporadic" has been used since the late 17th century to describe things that occur irregularly or in scattered instances.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Sporadic outbreaks"

Explanation:

Refers to sudden and scattered occurrences of something undesirable, such as sporadic outbreaks of violence or disease.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Perceiving "sporadic" as synonymous with "rare."

Explanation:

While sporadic events may be infrequent, the key distinction is their irregularity rather than the level of rarity. Sporadic events can still occur relatively frequently but with no discernible pattern.