C1adjectiveformalsocietynature
US/spɑːrs/
UK/spɑːs/
present in small numbers or amounts and spread far apart
In context
The population is sparse in the northern part of the country.
Public transport is sparse in rural areas, so most people drive.
The report offers only sparse evidence to support its claims.
Words that go with sparse
adjective + noun
- sparse populationThe desert has a sparse population of nomadic herders.
- sparse vegetationSparse vegetation makes the land hard to farm.
- sparse informationSparse information about the project left investors worried.
- sparse dataSparse data makes it hard to predict future trends.
- sparse crowdA sparse crowd attended the Tuesday evening lecture.