spoiler

noun

spoil·​er ˈspȯi-lər 

1

a

: one that spoils

b

: one (such as a political candidate) having little or no chance of winning but capable of depriving a rival of success

2

a

: a long narrow plate along the upper surface of an airplane wing that may be raised for reducing lift and increasing drag see airplane illustration

b

: an air deflector on an automobile to reduce the tendency to lift off the road at high speeds

3

: information about the plot of a movie or TV program that can spoil a viewer's sense of surprise or suspense

also : a person who discloses such information

Examples of spoiler in a Sentence

The review contains a few spoilers, so don't read it if you haven't seen the movie.

Recent Examples on the Web

This article contains light spoilers for Maria. Marvel, DC, and Star Wars can relax — director Pablo Larraín is not getting into the multiverse game. —EW.com, 11 Dec. 2024

The news, if true, is essentially a spoiler — and explains why nothing has been publicly confirmed. —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024

The following contains spoilers from Episode 3 of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, now streaming on Disney+. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 Dec. 2024

Warning: this story contains spoilers from the season 2 finale of Peacock's Based on a True Story. —Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing spoiler

• spoiler alert

Kids Definition

spoiler

noun

spoil·​er ˈspȯi-lər 

1

a

: one that spoils

b

: one (as a political candidate) having little or no chance of winning but capable of depriving a rival of success

2

: a device (as on an airplane or automobile) used to disrupt airflow and decrease lift

3

: information about the plot of a book, motion picture, or television program that can spoil a reader's or a viewer's sense of surprise or suspense