of sorts

phrasal or of a sort

: of an inconsequential or mediocre quality

a poet of sorts

* * *

of a sort or of sorts

1. Vague, rough, inexact

2. Inferior

• • •

Main Entry: ↑sort

* * *

of sorts of a sort phrase

of a type that is not exactly the same as the actual thing, or is not as good as the actual thing

She’s an artist of sorts.

Capitalism of a sort has existed for a number of years.

Thesaurus: similar and similarly_synonym

Main entry: sort

* * *

of sorts (or of a sort)

: in some ways but not entirely or exactly

It was a vacation of sorts. [=it was like a vacation in some ways, although it wasn't really a vacation]

He's a poet of sorts. [=he writes some poetry but he is not really a poet]

• • •

Main Entry: ↑sort

* * *

of ˈsorts idiom

(informal) used when you are saying that sth is not a good example of a particular type of thing

•

He offered us an apology of sorts.

Main entry: ↑sort_idiom