sparse

[spahrs]

adjective

sparser, sparsest 

1. thinly scattered or distributed.

   a sparse population.

   Antonyms: abundant

2. not thick or dense; thin.

   sparse hair.

   Antonyms: abundant

3. scanty; meager.

   Antonyms: abundant

sparse

/ spɑːs /

adjective

1. scattered or scanty; not dense

Other Word Forms

• sparsely adverb
• sparseness noun
• sparsity noun
• unsparse adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparse¹

First recorded in 1715–25; from Latin sparsus, past participle of spargere “to scatter,” sparge

Word History and Origins

Origin of sparse¹

C18: from Latin sparsus, from spargere to scatter

Synonym Study

See scanty.

Example Sentences

Many details are still sparse, but the deal is likely to have little impact on what most Americans pay at the pharmacy counter, experts said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

An engram can be viewed as a sparse ensemble of neurons across multiple regions in the brain that fire together.

Read more on Science Daily

Russell Vought, the White House's budget chief, briefed Republicans behind closed doors on what the impending layoffs could look like, although public details of those plans are sparse.

Read more on BBC

She said that surviving trees also face the threat of dehydration as water has been sparse.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Puberty hit, genders split, teams expanded to 15 players and rugby options for young women grew sparse.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• inadequate 
• infrequent 
• meager 
• scant 
• scanty 
• scarce 
• skimpy 
• sporadic 
• thin