Word of the day · 11 August 2026
sparse
/spɑːs/
adjective
Thinly scattered or in short supply; not dense.
In a sentence
- Traffic was sparse after midnight on the coastal road.
- Her apartment had sparse furniture and excellent light.
- Evidence was sparse, so the case never went to trial.
In an image
Origin
From Latin sparsus, past participle of spargere (to scatter).
History
English took sparse from Latin for things spread thinly. Geographers used it for population and vegetation. Designers later praised sparse layouts that leave room to breathe. The word can describe hardship (sparse rations) or restraint (sparse prose), so context matters.
Nearby words
scant · meager · scattered
Few and far between, on purpose or by scarcity.