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

But a smattering of residents have moved in, some of them fishing in the development’s tranquil waters. —Albee Zhang, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026

That leaves a smattering of partisan gains here and there. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026

Davy accented her look with a chain necklace, drop earrings, smattering of rings, and gold watch. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026

The good thing is, McCarthy’s got a hit show in LA—the opening on Monday evening brought a true cross-section of the city’s collecting community, movie stars, Hollywood power agents, and more than a smattering of McCarthy’s fellow artists. —Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 25 Feb. 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