piecemeal
What does "piecemeal" mean?
Piecemeal describes the process of doing something in small, separate stages or parts rather than all at once. The mental image is of someone building a house by adding one brick at a time over a long period, rather than constructing the whole frame at once. It is often used to describe projects, policy changes, or improvements that lack a cohesive, unified plan. While it can imply a careful, step-by-step approach, it is frequently used with a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the final result might be disjointed or inefficient because it wasn't planned as a single, integrated whole.
"piecemeal" in conversation
Discussing project progress
Are we ever going to finish the website redesign?
Are we ever going to finish the website redesign?
We're working on it, but it's happening in a piecemeal fashion.
We're working on it, but it's happening in a piecemeal fashion.
Used to explain why a project feels unfinished or fragmented.
Discussing city infrastructure
The city's transit expansion plan is quite fragmented.
The city's transit expansion plan is quite fragmented.
Exactly, these piecemeal updates aren't solving the traffic problem.
Exactly, these piecemeal updates aren't solving the traffic problem.
Used to critique a lack of holistic planning.
"piecemeal" in a sentence
She learned the language in a piecemeal way by studying a few words every day.
She learned the language in a piecemeal way by studying a few words every day.
The company introduced the new software features in a piecemeal fashion to avoid system crashes.
The company introduced the new software features in a piecemeal fashion to avoid system crashes.
Legislators argued that a piecemeal approach to tax reform would ultimately fail to address the underlying economic instability.
Legislators argued that a piecemeal approach to tax reform would ultimately fail to address the underlying economic instability.
