sparse

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Thinly scattered or distributed; not dense or plentiful.

   Grammar: Gradable: sparser, sparsest.

   Patterns

   • sparse vegetation
   • sparse population
   • sparse hair

   The mountain had sparse vegetation above the tree line.

   Traffic was sparse on the road at that early hour.

   His sparse beard made him look younger.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Present in small amounts or numbers; meager.

   Grammar: Often used with abstract nouns like 'information' or 'attendance'.

   Patterns

   • sparse information
   • sparse attendance
   • sparse details

   The report gave only sparse details about the incident.

   Attendance at the lecture was sparse.

   The museum's collection is sparse but well chosen.

Word forms

Common combinations

sparse population

The region has a sparse population due to the harsh climate.

sparse vegetation

Only sparse vegetation grows in the desert.

sparse attendance

The meeting had sparse attendance because of the snow.

sparse information

We have sparse information about the new policy.

Synonyms and how they differ

scattered

Scattered means spread out irregularly; sparse emphasizes a low density or amount.

thin

Thin can mean not dense, as in thin hair, but it has many other meanings; sparse is more specific.

meager

Meager means lacking in quantity or quality, often with a sense of inadequacy; sparse is more neutral.

Opposites

Word family

sparsely adverb

In a sparse manner; thinly.

sparseness noun

The quality of being sparse.

sparsity noun

The state of being sparse, often used in technical contexts.

Commonly confused: sparse or scarce?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sparse”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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