spam

1 of 3

noun

ˈspam 

: unsolicited usually commercial messages (such as emails, text messages, or Internet postings) sent to a large number of recipients or posted in a large number of places

spam

2 of 3

verb

spammed; spamming

transitive verb

: to send or post spam to

spammed customers with discount offers

spamming a message board

intransitive verb

: to send or post spam

The company was accused of spamming via text messages.

spammer noun

Spam

3 of 3

trademark

—used for a canned meat product

Examples of spam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

How to remove iPhone calendar spam invites The good news is that removing the spam usually takes only a few steps. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026

Robocall blockers might provide relief from unwanted calls on your cell phone, but 82-year-old Joseph Turrise said protecting his beloved landline from spam calls has proven far more challenging. —CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

Verb

The company later said an email from the senator's office did not reach its CEO due to spam filtering and that its privacy channels are actively monitored. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026

Real book publicists simply do not have time to spam potential clients. —Jessica Pellien, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from a skit on the British television series Monty Python's Flying Circus in which chanting of the word Spam overrides the other dialogue

First Known Use

Noun

1990, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1994, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing spam

• anti-spam
• spam filter

Rhymes for spam

• am
• bam
• cham
• clam
• damme
• damn
• dram
• flam
• fram
• gram
• ham
• jam

Kids Definition

spam

1 of 2 noun

ˈspam 

: unsolicited usually commercial email sent to a large number of addresses

spam

2 of 2 verb

: to send spam to

spammer noun