smattering

1 of 2

noun

smat·​ter·​ing ˈsma-tə-riŋ 

1

: superficial piecemeal knowledge

… a smattering of carpentry, house painting, bricklaying …

—Alva Johnston

2

: a small scattered number or amount

a smattering of spectators

smattering

2 of 2

present participle of smatter entry 1

Synonyms of smattering

Noun

• handful
• couple
• few

Examples of smattering in a Sentence

Noun

She only knows a smattering of German.

a smattering of guests at the art exhibit

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Many K-8th grade students receive a smattering of foreign language instruction (a day or two a week, or a quarter), but then they are expected to take year-long courses in foreign language in high school to satisfy university requirements. — Doug Wojcieszak, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026

After the Maple Fire the year before, all that was left of the towering trees was a smattering of survivors looking over a sea of skinny, pencil-like sticks sprouting from the charred dirt. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

There is a single stage, and over the course of six days, contestants take it one after another to play one song for a panel of judges and a smattering of spectators. — David Alm, Longreads, 1 Oct. 2026

In a particularly Ethan Hunt-ish twist, the actor wears a rubbery disguise—a potbellied suit, a scraggly gray comb-over, and a smattering of old-guy makeup. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for smattering

• battering
• chattering
• clattering
• flattering
• pattering
• scattering
• shattering
• spattering
• backscattering
• unflattering

Kids Definition

smattering

noun

smat·​ter·​ing ˈsmat-ə-riŋ 

1

: a small amount of knowledge

a smattering of French

2

: a small scattered number