spandex

noun

span·dex ˈspan-ˌdeks

: 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

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The set is buttery soft with a durable blend of viscose from bamboo and spandex for stretch. —

Madison Yauger, People.com, 4 Jan. 2025 They’re made of moisture-wicking cotton with a touch of spandex for stretch and comfort. —

Malia Griggs, Glamour, 11 Dec. 2024 This small brand out of Canada has become known for its plush, polyester-free fabric made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex. —

Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 The Nike Dri-FIT fabric, a polyester/spandex blend that wicks sweat, is nicely stretchy and super soft. —

Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 14 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spandex