smattering
noun
smat·ter·ing
ˈsma-tə-riŋ 
1
: superficial piecemeal knowledge
a smattering of carpentry, house painting, bricklaying—
Alva Johnston
Alva Johnston2
: a small scattered number or amount
a smattering of spectators
Synonyms
Examples of smattering in a Sentence
She only knows a smattering of German.
a smattering of guests at the art exhibit
Recent Examples on the Web
Only a smattering of Justice40 communities in the Golden State will see 48 or more health-threatening heat days under a moderate-emissions scenario, with additional communities appearing under a high-emissions scenario.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
That’s what happened to Meyer, who’s now the founder and executive chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group, which runs a smattering of New York hotspots including Union Square Cafe (Meyer’s first restaurant), Ci Siamo, The Modern, Daily Provisions, and Gramercy Tavern.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for smattering 
Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
That’s what happened to Meyer, who’s now the founder and executive chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group, which runs a smattering of New York hotspots including Union Square Cafe (Meyer’s first restaurant), Ci Siamo, The Modern, Daily Provisions, and Gramercy Tavern.
—Jane Thier, Fortune, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for smattering
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smattering.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smattering
Cite this Entry
“Smattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smattering. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
smattering
noun
smat·ter·ing
ˈsmat-ə-riŋ
1
: a small amount of knowledge
a smattering of French
2
: a small scattered number
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