adjective
erratic
ih-RAT-ik/ɪˈrætɪk/
Not following a regular or predictable pattern.
The erratic seam has irregular stitch lengths and uneven alignment.
Etymology
The underlying image is wandering or straying from a path. What first described wandering movement came to describe behavior or quality that departs from a regular, predictable course.
In context
vocal fry is very often irregular. That is, the successive vibrations can be very erratic, unlike the regularity of normal voicing
More examples
- The internet connection is erratic, dropping out several times an hour.
- The driver's erratic lane changes make other motorists nervous.
- Erratic rainfall makes it difficult for farmers to plan their planting.
Forms
erratic
erratically adverb — In an irregular or unpredictable way.
Similar words
- unpredictable
- Emphasizes difficulty anticipating what will happen, rather than uneven patterns.
- irregular
- Emphasizes departures from regular timing, spacing, or patterns.
- inconsistent
- Emphasizes changes in quality or behavior across different occasions.