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

Some ignore the Swedish number — like Brunkow, who assumed the pre-dawn call was spam. —Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025

Many suspect a spam call and don't pick up the phone, leading foundation staff to sometimes devise ruses. —Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025

Verb

Gallen’s plan against Eldridge was simple: spam him with changeups. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025

Skip LinkedIn, go niche Morgan says most people spam LinkedIn with their resumes and get buried instantly. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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