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

There was an increase in spam call rates from an average of 11 to 13 per user per month between July and Sept. 2024. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Waiting on a cold phone to ring or an inbox full of spam to let up, job-seekers are navigating a particularly trying hiring market. —Chloe Berger, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024

Verb

And as a form of hazing, please spam him with all your story ideas. —Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024

For example: Is an e-mail message spam or not spam? —Zachary C. Lipton, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Jan. 2016

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

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