sparse

1 of 2

adjective

ˈspärs 

sparser; sparsest

: of few and scattered elements

especially : not thickly grown or settled

sparsely adverb

sparseness noun

sparsity

ˈspär-sə-tē 

-stē

noun

sparsity

2 of 2

noun

spar·​si·​ty

variants or less commonly sparcity

ˈspärsətē, 

-pȧs-, 

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

: the state of being sparse : scantiness

sparsity of vegetation

Synonyms of sparse

Adjective

• scarce

Choose the Right Synonym for sparse

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable.

meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of sparse in a Sentence

Adjective

open land is sparse around here

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

As a result, many regions have relatively sparse monitoring networks that struggle to capture localized storms, where rainfall can vary dramatically over short distances. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

So were the trademark online videos showing the candidate goofing around in a hoodie, name-dropping Dunkin and Market Basket, and basking in the adulation of sparse crowds. — Jon Keller, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Camels, many belonging to Touareg nomads, grazed on sparse patches of vegetation. — Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026

Minutes will also be sparse for Jaye Nash, a junior guard from Jacksonville State who’ll make most of his impact as a practice player and in the locker room. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

Adjective

1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sparse

• arse
• carse
• farce
• marse
• parse

Kids Definition

sparse

adjective

ˈspärs 

sparser; sparsest

: of few and scattered elements

especially : not thickly grown or settled

sparsely adverb

sparseness noun

sparsity

ˈspär-sət-ē 

noun