sparse

1 of 2

adjective

ˈspärs 

sparser; sparsest

: of few and scattered elements

especially : not thickly grown or settled

sparsely adverb

sparseness noun

sparsity

ˈspär-sə-tē 

-stē

noun

sparseness

2 of 2

noun

sparse·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being sparse

Synonyms of sparse

Adjective

• scarce

Choose the Right Synonym for sparse

meager, scanty, scant, skimpy, spare, sparse mean falling short of what is normal, necessary, or desirable.

meager implies the absence of elements, qualities, or numbers necessary to a thing's richness, substance, or potency.

a meager portion of meat

scanty stresses insufficiency in amount, quantity, or extent.

supplies too scanty to last the winter

scant suggests a falling short of what is desired or desirable rather than of what is essential.

in January the daylight hours are scant

skimpy usually suggests niggardliness or penury as the cause of the deficiency.

tacky housing developments on skimpy lots

spare may suggest a slight falling short of adequacy or merely an absence of superfluity.

a spare, concise style of writing

sparse implies a thin scattering of units.

a sparse population

Examples of sparse in a Sentence

Adjective

open land is sparse around here

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sunday was an unusual summer day for much of Central and Southern California, bringing clouds and even sparse rain showers across much of the state as a monsoon was full steam ahead. — Sean MacAday 13, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026

The foundation’s website is sparse, featuring a short mission statement, three stated goals, a donation button, and Pratt’s name. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2026

Her efforts turned the exhibit into a showcase of Massachusetts products and culture instead of one of the sparse displays found elsewhere at the fair. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Already, reports of sparse crowds have marred the Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair on the National Mall, the Daily Beast said. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin sparsus spread out, from past participle of spargere to scatter — more at spark

First Known Use

Adjective

1753, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sparse

• arse
• carse
• farce
• marse
• parse

Kids Definition

sparse

adjective

ˈspärs 

sparser; sparsest

: of few and scattered elements

especially : not thickly grown or settled

sparsely adverb

sparseness noun

sparsity

ˈspär-sət-ē 

noun