divot

noun

div·​ot ˈdi-vət 

plural divots

1

Scotland : a square of turf or sod

2

: a loose piece of turf (such as one dug from a golf fairway in making a shot)

The caddies, I was solemnly assured, never replace a divot; they just sprinkle grass seed from a pouch they carry. Well, this is a myth, for I repeatedly saw caddies replace divots in the course of the tournament, with the care of tile-setters.

—John Updike

3

: a small dent : a small depression or hollow

… soft pastries of yeasted dough with a divot in the center, traditionally filled with sweetened cheese or fruit …

—John T. Edge

Examples of divot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cylindrical keycaps will have a U-shaped indentation with peaks on either side and a dip in the center, while spherical keycaps are going to be more bowl-like, with peaks on all four corners and a divot in the center. —Henri Robbins, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2025

Side and stomach sleepers will especially appreciate the side channels that cradle arms, as well as divots that minimize pressure on cheeks and ears. —Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2025

One of the most popular pieces in the room was the sculptural Hollywood Hills resin coffee table with a 90-degree divot creating an angled space to prop open an art book. —Booth Moore, WWD, 21 Feb. 2025

Also all the extra ridges and divots just meant more places for gunk to get stuck in. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier Scots devat, from Middle English (Scots) duvat

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for divot

• civet
• pivot
• privet
• rivet