Spo-răd'ie or Spo-răd'ie-al, a.

a. [Fr. sporadique, It. sporadico, Sp. esporadico, Gr. σποραδικός, scattered, from σποράς, σποράδος, id., from σπείρειν, to sow seed, to scatter like seed; whence certain isles of Greece were called Sporades.] Occurring singly or apart from other things of the same kind; separate; single; as, a sporadic fire-ball; a sporadic case of disease; a sporadic example of a flower.

Sporadic disease (Med.), a disease which occurs in single and scattered cases, in distinction from an epidemic and endemic, which affects many persons at the same time.