sprite
Americannoun
noun
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(in folklore) a nimble elflike creature, esp one associated with water
-
a small dainty person
-
an icon in a computer game which can be manoeuvred around the screen by means of a joystick, etc
Synonym Usage
See fairy.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sprite
1400–1450; Middle English sprit, spreit, from Anglo-French spirit(e), Old French esprit, espirit(e), from Latin spīritus spirit
Explanation
A sprite is a spirit, a mythical, fairy-like creature who lives by the water. Sprites are supernatural and sometimes tricksy. Sprites are particularly common Western European folk tales, and one of the most famous literary sprites is Ariel from Shakespeare's The Tempest. Elves and fairies can be described as sprites, and so can the water nymphs from Ancient Greek mythology. Sprite comes from the Old French esprit, or "spirit," and the Latin root spiritus. An older alternate spelling, now obsolete, was spright, which led to the adjective sprightly, "animated or lively."
Vocabulary lists containing sprite
A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Artemis Fowl
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Mythology
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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.
“This is a little uncomfortable for us,” said Gurley as people nearby tried plastic shot glasses of Fanta-infused orange shakes and Sprite mixed with pear syrup.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Sprite marketing has continued to riff off basketball during its time away from league sponsorship.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026
Its namesake Pepsi soda has lost market share to competitors like Dr. Pepper and Sprite.
From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025
There’s also the brand-new Spicy Snack Wrap Meal and Ranch & Spicy Snack Wrap Meal, which combine both wraps with fries and a Sprite.
From Salon • Sep. 13, 2025
I ask as Sonny returns with a bag of Doritos, a pack of Chips Ahoy! and Sprite cans.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
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.
