plural sprats also sprat
1
a
: a small European marine fish (Sprattus sprattus) of the herring family
called also brisling
b
: any of various small or young fish (such as an anchovy) related to or resembling the herrings
2
: a young, small, or insignificant person
Synonyms
Examples of sprat in a Sentence
planning to spend their vacation at a couples-only resort where they would not be bothered by snotty-nosed sprats
Recent Examples on the Web
Her family’s Christmas lunch includes two versions of Jansson’s temptation (one with sprats, one without) and, of course, schnapps and singing.
—
Eric Kim, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The fish’s brine perfumes the cream with warm spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon, and the sprats themselves melt into oblivion after a long bake.
—Eric Kim, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The store’s shelves are stocked with sausages, many-layered honey cake, tinned sprats from Latvia, and other Eastern European goods.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 11 July 2023
Baltic Sea sprat smoked with heather and chamomile, say — to stretch your taste beyond its comfort zone and perhaps prime your next order.
—New York Times, 26 Aug. 2021
If left to swim downstream by themselves, some of the sprats would get lost and overheated in the stagnant reservoirs behind each dam; despite screens, others would be ground up in the turbines.
—Patrick Symmes, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019
In the Baltic Sea, juvenile herring and sprat – another small herring-like fish – have more food available to them in warm years than in cool years, and have also benefited from warming.
—Chris Free, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eric Kim, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The fish’s brine perfumes the cream with warm spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon, and the sprats themselves melt into oblivion after a long bake.
—Eric Kim, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The store’s shelves are stocked with sausages, many-layered honey cake, tinned sprats from Latvia, and other Eastern European goods.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 11 July 2023
Baltic Sea sprat smoked with heather and chamomile, say — to stretch your taste beyond its comfort zone and perhaps prime your next order.
—New York Times, 26 Aug. 2021
If left to swim downstream by themselves, some of the sprats would get lost and overheated in the stagnant reservoirs behind each dam; despite screens, others would be ground up in the turbines.
—Patrick Symmes, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019
In the Baltic Sea, juvenile herring and sprat – another small herring-like fish – have more food available to them in warm years than in cool years, and have also benefited from warming.
—Chris Free, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near sprat
Cite this Entry
“Sprat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprat. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share