smatter

1 of 2

verb

smat·​ter ˈsma-tər 

smattered; smattering; smatters

intransitive verb

: to talk superficially : babble

transitive verb

1

: to speak with spotty or superficial knowledge

smatters French

2

: to dabble in

smatterer

ˈsma-tər-ər 

noun

smatter

2 of 2

noun

: smattering

a smatter of applause

Synonyms of smatter

Noun

• handful
• couple
• few

Examples of smatter in a Sentence

Noun

we received only a smatter of complaints about the book

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Your eyes feast on the yellows, golds, and oranges smattered with some greens that haven’t turned yet. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

There’s a set that celebrates postal workers, another depicting bald eagles at every life stage from awkward chick to majestic icon of Americana, and one that is smattered with colorful Route 66 landmarks. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 July 2026

Noun

Outside a car wash where two people died, a smatter of small bloodstains can still be seen on the white exterior wall. — Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English smateren to make dirty, talk idly

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1668, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for smatter

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