# sparse vs spate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### sparse
*adjective · IPA /spɑːs/ · frequency rank #18,193*
Having widely spaced intervals.

### spate
*noun · IPA /speɪt/ · frequency rank #37,701*
A (sudden) flood or inundation of water; specifically, a flood in or overflow of a river or other watercourse due to heavy rain or melting snow; (uncountable, archaic) flooding, inundation.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sparse-vs-spate