# scatter

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈskætə/ · frequency rank #17,477

## Definitions
1. To (cause to) separate and go in different directions; to disperse.
2. To distribute loosely as by sprinkling.
3. To deflect (radiation or particles).
4. To occur or fall at widely spaced intervals.
5. To frustrate, disappoint, and overthrow.
6. To be dispersed upon.
7. Of a pitcher: to keep down the number of hits or walks.
8. To leave.

## Etymology
From Middle English scateren, skateren, also schateren,
* probably a variant of shatter, which is imitative;
* or from Old English *sceaterian, probably from a dialect of Old Norse, possibly ultimately related to Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to cut, split, shatter”).
Compare Middle Dutch scheteren (“to scatter”), Low German schateren, Dutch schateren (“to burst out laughing”); and is apparently remotely akin to Ancient Greek σκεδάννυμι (skedánnumi, “scatter, disperse”). and Tocharian B kät- (“to scatter, sow seeds”). Doublet of shatter.

## Easily confused with
- **slater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-slater)
- **skater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-skater)
- **sitter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-sitter)
- **seater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-seater)
- **Sutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-sutter)
- **setter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-setter)
- **starter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-starter)
- **smarter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-smarter)
- **scooter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-scooter)
- **shutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-shutter)
- **shatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-shatter)
- **stutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-stutter)
- **spotter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-spotter)
- **Shatner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-shatner)
- **scepter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-scepter)
- **splatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-splatter)
- **Slattery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-slattery)
- **scattered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scatter-vs-scattered)
- **salter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/salter-vs-scatter)
- **scanner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scanner-vs-scatter)

## Common misspellings (9)
`csatter`, `sactter`, `scater`, `scatetr`, `scatterr`, `scattre`, `sccatter`, `sctater`, `sscatter`

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