The adjective sporadic means something that happens at irregular intervals.
Synonyms are on and off, irregular, occasional, or infrequent.
The word origins from Medieval Latin (1680s) sporadicus meaning “scattered”. It also sources from Greek sporadikos meaning “scattered”, and sporas meaning “scattered, dispersed”, from spora meaning “a sowing”. It is originally a medical term meaning “occurring in scattered instances”. The meaning “happening at intervals” is first recorded in 1847.
Though most isolates have meningococcemia viruses, those with influenza B viruses were isolated from sporadic cases.
There is a chance of sporadic rain showers and isolated thunderstorms in night hours, especially in the northern part of the island.
Navy officials surveyed the damage caused by sporadic clashes near the borders.