saltatory

/ˈsæl.tə.tɔːr.i/
adjective
  1. Relating to or involving leaping or jumping.
    • The kangaroo's saltatory locomotion is efficient for covering long distances.
    • The frog's saltatory movements helped it escape the predator.
    • In dance class, we practiced saltatory steps that required quick jumps.
  2. Proceeding by abrupt leaps or jumps rather than by smooth, continuous change.
    • The disease showed a saltatory progression, with sudden worsening followed by plateaus.
    • The saltatory pattern of the stock market made investors nervous.
    • Scientific progress is often saltatory, with sudden breakthroughs after long periods of stability.
What does "saltatory" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean