spandex
noun
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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
Amanda Oliver, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024
High-profile athletes like Florence Griffith Joyner helped popularize the spandex look.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024
The Serta Power Chill mattress protector is made with a cooling nylon and spandex cover atop a waterproof layer.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
Made from a blend of nylon and spandex, the simple shirt can be worn anywhere from the airport to dinner thanks to its flattering and simple form.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
The lightweight top is made of polyester and spandex and is available in nearly 40 colors, ranging from neutrals, like navy, gray, and khaki, to colorblocked options with contrasting shades.
—Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Competitors don spandex, down vodka and plunge into ice holes
OTEPÄÄ, Estonia — A sharp hiss filled the room as a competitor ladled four cups of water over a hot pile of black sauna rocks.
—Lisa Lucas, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024
Thanks to the polyester and spandex blend, these are stretchy and durable enough for active, growing kids.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 28 Mar. 2024
They're made of a Lycra spandex that wraps around and sucks in the waist, covering the belly button and giving you full butt coverage.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spandex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Spandex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spandex. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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spandex
noun
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