# botched

/ˈbɑtʃt/ (US) · /bˈɒtʃt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/botched
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

done badly or ruined because of a lack of care or skill. You use this to describe a task or job that was finished but is full of mistakes.

For teachers: carried out carelessly or poorly, resulting in a failed or flawed outcome. Often used to describe professional tasks, surgeries, or criminal attempts that went wrong.

## Examples

- The botched repair job made the leak even worse.
- The police investigation was botched from the start because the first officers on the scene failed to secure the evidence.
- A botched attempt at a corporate merger can leave both companies in a significantly weaker financial position than they were before the negotiations began.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He botched up the job" but "He botched the job" — While 'mess up' or 'screw up' use 'up', 'botch' is a transitive verb that usually takes the object directly without a particle.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun; often follows a linking verb like 'look' or 'seem'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.