scatter

1 of 2

verb

scat·​ter ˈska-tər 

scattered; scattering; scatters

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to separate widely

b

: to cause to vanish

2

archaic : to fling away heedlessly : squander

3

: to distribute irregularly

4

: to sow by casting in all directions : strew

5

a

: to reflect irregularly and diffusely

b

: to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse

6

: to divide into ineffectual small portions

intransitive verb

1

: to separate and go in various directions : disperse

2

: to occur or fall irregularly or at random

scatterer

ˈska-tər-ər 

noun

scatter

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act of scattering

2

: a small quantity or number irregularly distributed or strewn about : scattering

3

: the state or extent of being scattered

especially : dispersion

Synonyms

Verb

• clear out
• disband
• dispel
• disperse
• dissipate
• squander

Noun

• couple
• few
• handful
• scattering
• smatter
• smattering
• sprinkle
• sprinkling

Choose the Right Synonym for scatter

scatter, disperse, dissipate, dispel mean to cause to separate or break up.

scatter implies a force that drives parts or units irregularly in many directions.

the bowling ball scattered the pins

disperse implies a wider separation and a complete breaking up of a mass or group.

police dispersed the crowd

dissipate stresses complete disintegration or dissolution and final disappearance.

the fog was dissipated by the morning sun

dispel stresses a driving away or getting rid of as if by scattering.

an authoritative statement that dispelled all doubt

Examples of scatter in a Sentence

Verb

The wind scattered the pile of leaves.

The marbles scattered across the floor.

She scattered the books on the table.

He scatters his toys all around the house.

Noun

played before only a scatter of spectators in that huge stadium

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Whistles and boos met Chelsea possessions and when Pedro Neto scored the opening goal for the Blues in the 13th minute, the cheers from the blue end of the field were overtaken by the screams of rebuttal from the Flamengo fans scattered around this massive stadium. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 June 2025

Art is scattered throughout, selected by Austrian gallerist and Benan’s friend Thaddaeus Ropac, who picked sculptures by Erwin Wurm for the windows and Not Vital artworks to hang on walls throughout the boutique. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 June 2025

Noun

Artists love this paper for its heft and how the visible pulp scatters light in their paintings. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 June 2025

Fast-food and healthcare spend has been particularly strong in second-quarter scatter, although Johnston acknowledged that investment across the direct-to-consumer space has been disrupted by a glut in supply. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English scateren, schateren to disperse, break up, destroy; akin to Middle Dutch schaderen to scatter

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scatter

• scatter cushion
• scatter diagram
• scatter rug

Rhymes for scatter

• atter
• batter
• blatter
• catarrh
• chatter
• clatter
• fatter
• flatter
• hatter
• latter
• matter
• natter

Kids Definition

scatter

verb

scat·​ter

ˈskat-ər

1

: to cause to separate widely

wind scattered the dry leaves

2

: to place or leave here and there

scattered their toys all over the house

3

: to sow widely and without pattern

4

: to separate and go in different directions

the crowd scattered

5

: to occur or fall without pattern

lakes scattered everywhere in the hills

Medical Definition

scatter

1 of 2 transitive verb

scat·​ter ˈskat-ər 

: to cause (a beam of radiation) to diffuse or disperse

scatter

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act of scattering

2

: the state or extent of being scattered

especially : scattering