Botched

Botched is an adjective meaning performed badly or unsuccessfully due to errors or incompetence. It can also be the past participle form of the verb botch, meaning to carry out a task clumsily or carelessly. The term carries a strong negative connotation and implies that a result should have been better or could require corrective action. The noun form botch, and the informal phrase botch-up, are used to describe a faulty job or outcome.

Etymology and scope: Botched derives from botch, which in turn refers to a clumsy or inept repair or job. The word is widely used across domains to describe failures in execution rather than mere disappointment, though the line between a difficult result and a botch can be subjective. It appears in medical, construction, cosmetic, culinary, and technical contexts, among others.

Contexts and usage: In medical settings, a botched procedure denotes complications or an unsatisfactory outcome. In construction or repairs, a botched job signals shoddy workmanship. In everyday language, people may speak of a botched plan or presentation. While informal, the term remains common in journalism and social commentary because it emphasizes preventable mistakes and the need for corrective action.

In popular culture: The phrase has become a common descriptor in media, and it is also the title of a reality television series about plastic surgery, highlighting public interest in outcomes that are perceived as botched.

See also: botch, botch up, bungling, malpractice, debacle, fiasco.