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

Summer brings warm, sunny weather (though more crowds), while fall offers cooler temps and a smattering of changing leaves. —Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026

The Secret Garden necklace, inlaid with onyx, also includes a smattering of smaller diamond, emerald, and purple sapphire stones. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026

The village at the top consists of two restaurants (the more expensive one has a view of a steep canyon and the blue Rio Grande below) and a smattering of houses. —Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026

There’s also a smattering of hip-hop, including a 1988 concert by rap pioneers Boogie Down Productions. —Christopher Weber, Fortune, 8 Apr. 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