adjective
Uncommon
sparse
spahs
Sparse (adjective) means Thinly spread out or scattered, with a lot of empty space in between. Example: “The desert had only sparse vegetation.”
adjective
1
Thinly spread out or scattered, with a lot of empty space in between.
"The desert had only sparse vegetation."
"Attendance at the meeting was sparse due to the storm."
How to use sparse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThin, scattered, or not much of something spread over a large area.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "scarce" — "sparse" describes something spread thinly over an area, while "scarce" describes something in short overall supply.
Common pairings
sparse population
sparse vegetation
sparse crowd
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- sparses
- Past tense
- sparsed
- Comparative
- sparser
- Superlative
- sparsest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The desert had only _____ vegetation.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin sparsus, "scattered."
Related words
Rhymes for sparse
See all rhymes for sparse →Frequently asked questions
What does “sparse” mean?
The word “sparse” means thinly spread out or scattered, with a lot of empty space in between. In plain terms, thin, scattered, or not much of something spread over a large area.
How do you pronounce “sparse”?
“Sparse” is pronounced spahs (/spɑːɹs/ in IPA).
How do you use “sparse” in a sentence?
Here is “sparse” used in a sentence: “The desert had only sparse vegetation.”
What is another word for “sparse”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sparse” include thin and paltry.
What part of speech is “sparse”?
“Sparse” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sparse” come from?
The word “sparse” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Latin sparsus, "scattered.".
Is “sparse” a common word?
“Sparse” is an uncommon word in modern English.
