spat

¹ American  

[spat] / spæt /

noun

1. a petty quarrel.

   Synonyms:

   set-to, scrap, tiff

2. a light blow; slap; smack.

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verb (used without object)

spatted, spatting

1. to engage in a petty quarrel or dispute.

2. to splash or spatter; rain spatting against the window.

verb (used with object)

spatted, spatting

1. to strike lightly; slap.

spat ² American  

[spat] / spæt /

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of spit.

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spat ³ American  

[spat] / spæt /

noun

1. a short gaiter worn over the instep and usually fastened under the foot with a strap, worn especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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spat ⁴ American  

[spat] / spæt /

noun

Zoology.

1. the spawn of an oyster or similar shellfish.

2. young oysters collectively, especially seed oysters.

3. a young oyster.

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spat ¹ British  

/ spæt /

noun

1. rare a slap or smack

2. a slight quarrel

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verb

1. rare to slap (someone)

2. (intr) to have a slight quarrel

spat ² British  

/ spæt /

noun

1. a larval oyster or similar bivalve mollusc, esp when it settles to the sea bottom and starts to develop a shell

2. such oysters or other molluscs collectively

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spat ³ British  

/ spæt /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of spit 1

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spat ⁴ British  

/ spæt /

noun

1. another name for gaiter

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Etymology

Origin of spat¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; perhaps imitative

Origin of spat³

First recorded in 1795–1805; short for spatterdash

Origin of spat⁴

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; origin uncertain

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Explanation

You probably recognize the word spat from the phrase "lover's spat," which describes a minor squabble between a couple. The spat is usually over something as silly as which partner has to do the laundry, and the relationship usually recovers quickly, with no long-term harm done. For the purposes of this definition, the noun spat refers to a minor argument or mild bickering. That is the definition by which spat is probably best known, but the word has other meanings. Depending on how you use spat, it can be the past participle of spit, the short piece of leather men wore over their shoes in the old days, or an oyster that hasn't quite reached its prime.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spat spatted spatting

El-Sayed bested Republican Mike Rogers, withstanding an onslaught of attacks that included baselessly tying him to terrorism and a high-profile spat with a fellow Democrat.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

But Mitchell spat on three straight balls to get to a full count.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

I’ve seen Tanden get into a headline-making spat with progressive blogger Matt Bruenig; I’ve even watched her carry on a one-sided vendetta against Susan Sarandon.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

In a spat with Altman on X, Musk said Altman’s money had been refunded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

“You’re a terrible man,” Klaus spat out, but Count Olaf merely smiled again.

From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket

In a reminder of the delicate nature of their ties, diplomats between the two countries last week spatted over a South Korean lawmaker’s visit to disputed islets located in the waters between the two countries.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2023

But later on the third night, Lady Beatty spatted with Frankie and drove off in a Huff.*

From Time Magazine Archive

Again Publisher Bonfils refused to answer, clapped his derby upon his greying head, walked out on spatted feet.

From Time Magazine Archive

Luxe is a clumsily tender Arcadi an idyl, the Isle of Cythera transferred to an as yet unpopular St.-Tropez, spatted with dots of neo-impressionist light.

From Time Magazine Archive

Their rope-soled shoes tapped and spatted on the pavement.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

I’m sure if I looked hard enough, I could find some subsection of the dinosaur community where people are spatting over science or fighting about feathers and scales.

From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2026

Their latest idea: Wrapping his foot in reinforcing spatting tape over the last three games, to minimize the chances of him rolling it again.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2024

Nelson, a Flower Mound Republican, said Monday of her House counterparts, “We’re not spatting with them.”

From Washington Times ● Apr. 13, 2015

Thanks to the magic of Twitter, we can now experience all of the spinning, spatting, and snarking from both sides of the aisle in real time.

From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2014

Buddy, therefore, was not unusually startling, one day at dinner, when he looked up from spatting his potato into a flat cake on his plate.

From The Uphill Climb by B. M. Bower

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Related Words

• altercation
• bickering
• brouhaha
• difference of opinion
• disagreement
• discord
• falling-out
• feud
• flare-up
• fracas
• friction
• misunderstanding
• run-in
• squabble
• strife
• tiff

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