smattering

noun

smat·​ter·​ing ˈsma-tə-riŋ How to pronounce smattering (audio)
Synonyms of smatteringnext
1
: superficial piecemeal knowledge
… a smattering of carpentry, house painting, bricklaying …Alva Johnston
2
: a small scattered number or amount
a smattering of spectators

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is a smattering of mid-tier or boutique hotels in central Colima or the nearby village of Comala, and a few resort hotels in Manzanillo. Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026 As Hollywood adapts to the technology — particular corners of the business running towards it, others away — a smattering of creatives have begun to go public with their time in the world of Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2026 But Via Carota doesn't hold a monopoly on Taylor's pasta-loving heart—she's sampled a smattering of NYC's most popular Italian joints over the years, including Torrisi, Emilio’s Ballato, and Lucali. Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026 The sea of light blue Uruguayan fans went silent as a smattering of Cape Verde fans around the stadium erupted and waved their flags. Miami Herald, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for smattering

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of smattering was in 1538

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Cite this Entry

“Smattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smattering. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

smattering

noun
smat·​ter·​ing ˈsmat-ə-riŋ How to pronounce smattering (audio)
1
: a small amount of knowledge
a smattering of French
2
: a small scattered number

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