spandex

noun

span·​dex ˈspan-ˌdeks How to pronounce spandex (audio)
: any of various elastic textile fibers made chiefly of polyurethane
also : clothing made of this material

Did you know?

Spandex is a fiber that has had an impact on fashion high and low, casual and formal, outer and under. It's not a trademark, as a number of the names of other fibers are, among them Dacron, Lycra, and Orlon. It's a generic term, coined in 1959 as an anagram of the word expands. Anagrammatic coinages are not common; the only other in our dictionaries that the average person is likely to be familiar with is sideburns. Sideburns is an anagram (and synonym) of burnsides, from Ambrose E. Burnside, a Union general in the American Civil War credited with originating the fashion (in the U.S., at least) also known as side-whiskers.

Examples of spandex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The seersucker fabric is constructed from cotton with a little bit of spandex stretch for flexibility, plus a fully elastic waistband for a more comfortable wear. Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 20 June 2025 It’s made from a stretchy polyester and spandex material, and it’s received more than 7,100 perfect ratings. Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 8 June 2025 They’re made from a blend of cotton, hemp, and spandex, which provides structure and a little bit of stretch, while the high waistline and contoured waistband help create a flattering fit. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 June 2025 For anyone who styles their edges or prefers to have their baby hair perfectly laid, the large spandex band around this bonnet keeps everything in place. Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for spandex

Word History

Etymology

anagram of expands

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spandex was in 1959

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Spandex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spandex. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

spandex

noun
span·​dex ˈspan-ˌdeks How to pronounce spandex (audio)
: any of various synthetic elastic textile fibers

More from Merriam-Webster on spandex

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!