What does "sprite" mean?
Any of various supernatural beings, loosely defined:; A spirit; a soul; a shade.
Sprite
/spɹaɪt/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of various supernatural beings, loosely defined:; A spirit; a soul; a shade.
- Grammar: sprite is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: fairy, apparition, appearance, ariel.
- Useful contrasts: giant, human, water.
- Usage evidence: I am a little world made cunningly of elements, and an angelic sprite.
How to use "sprite"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sprite" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sprite" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sprite" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sprite" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sprite" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "fairy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sprite", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of various supernatural beings, loosely defined:; A spirit; a soul; a shade.
"He who torments the chafer's sprite Weaves a bower in endless night."
- 2 a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers wordnet
- 3 Any of various supernatural beings, loosely defined:; An apparition; a ghost.
- 4 Any of various supernatural beings, loosely defined:; An elf, fairy, or goblin; one with a small humanlike physical body.
- 5 A two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene.
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A large electrical discharge that occurs high above the cumulonimbus cloud of an active thunderstorm, which appears as a luminous red or orange flash.
- 7 The green woodpecker, or yaffle (Picus viridis).
- 8 Any of various African damselflies of the genus Pseudagrion (of which, Australian species are named riverdamsels).
- 9 A spayed female ferret.
- 10 Alternative form of spright (“frame of mind, disposition”). alt-of, alternative, obsolete
Verb
- 1 To draw a (specifically) pixel art sprite. informal
"sprited the new NPCs"
Proper Noun
- 1 A colourless, caffeine-free, lemon and lime-flavoured soft drink.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I am a little world made cunningly of elements, and an angelic sprite."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sprite"?
Common synonyms include: fairy, apparition, appearance, ariel, astral, astral spirit.
How do you use "sprite" in a sentence?
I am a little world made cunningly of elements, and an angelic sprite.
How do you pronounce "sprite"?
Pronounced /spɹaɪt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English sprite, spryt, spreyte, from Old French esprit (“spirit”), from Latin spīritus. Doublet of spirit, spiritus, spirytus, spright, and esprit. (computer graphics): First used by Danny Hillis at Texas Instruments in the late 1970s. (meteorology): An acronym for Stratospheric Perturbations Resulting from Intense Thunderstorm Electrification.
Etymology 2
In the early 1940s, Coca-Cola started running an advertising campaign featuring an elf-like figure called “Sprite Boy” (see sprite (“elf”)). The name originated from the previous Coca-Cola campaign, but it was a focus group that ultimately chose the name “Sprite”.