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
The brand’s latest collection, filled with juicy colored one-pieces, bikinis that evoke a sunset, and a smattering of striped designs doesn’t stray too far from Lido’s Venetian roots.
—Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
But there were also a smattering of fans with pre-revolutionary flags who booed the Iranian national anthem and erupted in celebration when New Zealand scored an early goal.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 June 2026
But don’t be surprised if there are smatterings of green and white all over the stadium, some from afar and others grown in the Kansas City area over a short time.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani stepped into the batter’s box at Rate Field for the first time this series on Saturday, greeted by a smattering of boos from Chicago White Sox fans.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
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Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
But there were also a smattering of fans with pre-revolutionary flags who booed the Iranian national anthem and erupted in celebration when New Zealand scored an early goal.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 June 2026
But don’t be surprised if there are smatterings of green and white all over the stadium, some from afar and others grown in the Kansas City area over a short time.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani stepped into the batter’s box at Rate Field for the first time this series on Saturday, greeted by a smattering of boos from Chicago White Sox fans.
—Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 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 22 Jun. 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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