Standard Lemma guide

sparseness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state or quality of being sparse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • The sparseness of the hair on his head made him long for his full-haired youth.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The result or product of being sparse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the property of being scanty or scattered; lacking denseness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spareness, sparsity, thinness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: meagerness, meagreness, leanness, poorness, scantiness, scantness, exiguity

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English sparse Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English sparseness From sparse + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: řídkost — the state or quality of being sparse
  • Hindi: विरलता (viraltā) — the state or quality of being sparse
  • Italian: l'essere rado — the state or quality of being sparse
  • Italian: l'essere rada — the state or quality of being sparse
  • Italian: l'essere radi — the state or quality of being sparse
  • Italian: l'essere rade — the state or quality of being sparse
  • Italian: radezza — the state or quality of being sparse