sparse

[ spahrs ]
/ spɑrs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR sparse ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, spars·er, spars·est.

thinly scattered or distributed: a sparse population.
not thick or dense; thin: sparse hair.
scanty; meager.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of sparse

1715–25; < Latin sparsus, past participle of spargere to scatter, sparge

OTHER WORDS FROM sparse

Words nearby sparse

sparrow hawk, sparrowfart, sparrowgrass, sparrowhawk, sparry, sparse, sparta, spartacist, spartacus, spartan, spartanburg
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to sparsely

easily, delicately, casually, tenderly, moderately, gingerly, softly, simply, mildly, freely, quietly, slightly, faintly, subtly, comparatively, practically, seldom, barely, somewhat, rarely

British Dictionary definitions for sparsely

sparse
/ (spɑːs) /

adjective

scattered or scanty; not dense

Derived forms of sparse

sparsely, adverbsparseness or sparsity, noun

Word Origin for sparse

C18: from Latin sparsus, from spargere to scatter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012