Sparse

/spɑːrs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Thinly dispersed or scattered.

The vegetation in the desert is sparse, making it difficult for most animals to find food.

Present only in small amounts; not dense.

She had sparse knowledge of the topic, just enough to participate in the discussion.

Lacking in completeness or fullness.

Their sparse attendance at the meeting raised concerns about the project's future.

From Latin 'sparsus', meaning 'spread out' or 'scattered'.

sparse population

A population that is spread out over a large area with few individuals.

sparse resources

Resources that are limited in quantity and widely distributed.

sparse vegetation

Areas where plants are few and far between.

scarce

Insufficient to satisfy the need or demand; not abundant.

scattered

Spread or distributed over a wide area.

meager

Lacking in quantity or quality.

A lack of something.

That party was sparse, hardly anyone showed up.

Used to describe a minimalist style.

Her apartment is very sparse, just the basics.