smattering
noun
smat·ter·ing
ˈsma-tə-riŋ 
1
: superficial piecemeal knowledge
… a smattering of carpentry, house painting, bricklaying …—
Alva Johnston
Alva Johnston2
: 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
Water Street, the town's main drag, has a smattering of restaurants interspersed with antique shops, but for a bite with a view, check out the popular Dog Watch Cafe overlooking the harbor.
—Amy Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026
And there was a smattering of Bueckers fans dressed in Wings jerseys too.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
The Japanese And German Swap Out In 2014, my community in Los Angeles (about 400 homes) was mostly Japanese and German brands with a smattering of Detroit pickups and muscle cars.
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Community groups and local religious organizations said Los Ardillos have sought to take over the land for years in their battle for territory with a smattering of other rival criminal groups.
—Megan Janetsky, Fortune, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for smattering
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Amy Thomas, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026
And there was a smattering of Bueckers fans dressed in Wings jerseys too.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026
The Japanese And German Swap Out In 2014, my community in Los Angeles (about 400 homes) was mostly Japanese and German brands with a smattering of Detroit pickups and muscle cars.
—Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Community groups and local religious organizations said Los Ardillos have sought to take over the land for years in their battle for territory with a smattering of other rival criminal groups.
—Megan Janetsky, Fortune, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for smattering
Cite this Entry
“Smattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smattering. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smattering
noun
smat·ter·ing
ˈsmat-ə-riŋ
1
: a small amount of knowledge
a smattering of French
2
: a small scattered number
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