adjective
Related Words
See scanty.
Other Word Forms
- sparsely adverb
- sparseness noun
- sparsity noun
- unsparse adjective
Etymology
Origin of sparse
First recorded in 1715–25; from Latin sparsus, past participle of spargere “to scatter,” sparge
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Employers are more relaxed about in-office attendance, and social calendars tend to be sparse.
She scratched her head, sending her blond wig askew, revealing the sparse gray spiderwebs underneath.
From Literature
The week preceding the main draws was once a peaceful time, with sparse crowds watching qualifying and the players practising behind closed doors.
From BBC
The conditions were sparse: They set up a tent, added radios, logbooks, and cameras, and positioned a scientist there around the clock.
From Literature
Keeping a sparse digital file on your computer would do the job just the same.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
