Definition

Not having many things close together; spread out or thinly distributed.

Example

The forest was sparse, with trees few and far between.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

I noticed the trees in the park are really sparse this year.

Yeah, it looks like some of them didn't survive the winter well.

It makes the whole area feel a bit empty, doesn't it?

Definitely! I hope they plant more to fill it up again.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sparse → It originates from Latin 'sparsus' (meaning scattered or spread out), which is the past participle of 'spargere' (meaning to scatter). The word 'sparse' describes something that is thinly dispersed or not dense.

Memory Tip

Think of things that are 'scattered' ('spargere') and remember that 'sparse' means something is spread out or not closely packed.

Visually Confused Words