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

That is because it was dominated by the lightest element, hydrogen, with some helium and a tiny smattering of heavy elements, or metals. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 July 2026

The eatery is still a draw today (the owners are restaurateurs in Bordeaux), offering a smattering of specialties from southwest France, as well as plush pairings like local oysters with lemon cream and caviar. — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026

The uneven elevation of Spain’s mountainous regions could obstruct viewing the eclipse, as could a line of trees or a smattering of buildings. — Catherine Tansey, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2026

Even Google’s search homepage has a smattering of AI buttons and drop-down menus. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 14 July 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