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Definition of sprat

sprat

/spræt/
sprat
Plural:sprats
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sprat Lexical Profile

sprat Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, silvery marine schooling fish of the herring family (Sprattus sprattus), commonly found in European waters and widely consumed as food.

Example

"The local fishermen returned to the harbor with nets full of shimmering sprats."

2

British A small, insignificant person, or an active young child.

Example

"The little sprat was running around the playground causing trouble before lunch."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sprat
Antonyms
View all antonyms for sprat

Word Nuance & Usage

In British English, 'sprat' frequently appears in the idiom 'to throw a sprat to catch a mackerel,' meaning to risk something small to secure a much larger gain.

• Rhymes for sprat

• Nearby Words

spouseless
spout
sprain
sprat
sprawl
sprawler
sprawling

Word Origin & Etymology

Late 16th century; of unknown origin, though possibly related to the Old English 'sprot' (a shoot or sprout), reflecting the fish's small size.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sprat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sprat
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