smattering

noun

smat·​ter·​ing ˈsma-tə-riŋ 

1

: superficial piecemeal knowledge

… a smattering of carpentry, house painting, bricklaying …

—Alva Johnston

2

: a small scattered number or amount

a smattering of spectators

Synonyms of smattering

• handful
• couple
• few

Examples of smattering in a Sentence

She only knows a smattering of German.

a smattering of guests at the art exhibit

Recent Examples on the Web

France had already been liberated, but Royan was said to be the site of a smattering of Third Reich dead-enders. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Others hardly qualify as towns at all, just a smattering of buildings on some gravel road since displaced by a bigger, faster, more serviceable highway. — Téa Obreht, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Oh, and sweat, bacne, thigh chafing, and, in some cases, a smattering of pesky little bumps in the area above your upper thigh and below your buttcheeks. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Aug. 2026

Others—my preference—add a swipe of Dijon and a smattering of sliced cornichons, for a kick of spice and jolt of acidity. — Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for smattering

• battering
• chattering
• clattering
• flattering
• pattering
• scattering
• shattering
• spattering
• backscattering
• unflattering

Kids Definition

smattering

noun

smat·​ter·​ing ˈsmat-ə-riŋ 

1

: a small amount of knowledge

a smattering of French

2

: a small scattered number