sprat
noun
a species of herring, Clupea sprattus, of the eastern North Atlantic.
sprats
-
pluralof sprat.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
An illustration shows a Buster Keaton-eyed puffin with a beakful of sardines or sprats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
The Severn Estuary is home to huge numbers of sprats and salmon, and the twaite shad, a protected migrating species which spawns in the tributaries of the River Severn.
From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2026
The Bristol Channel is home to salmon, eels, herring, sprats, and dozens of protected marine species.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2024
It can also be made with salt-cured fish, and modern cooks often use sprats in tomato sauce, a popular pantry staple of tiny herring canned in a purée that tastes a bit like cocktail sauce.
From New York Times ● May 16, 2022
He have a brother a smith, back in the mountain," continued Denis, wrapping up the sprats and the nail in his handkerchief; "'twas for a token he put the nail in it.
From Further Experiences of an Irish R.M. by Martin Ross
