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

The nylon-spandex blend offers lightweight, just-right stretch while a high-rise elastic waistband lays flat without digging in. — Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2026

Neither picture was much of a hit, but then again, neither had a $250 million budget or a man in spandex tights. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026

While designed to offer a snug fit, this bra is also made from a lightweight and breathable spandex blend that’s moisture-wicking to keep you cool and dry. — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

Syre’s solution allows for 10 percent of composition to be non-polyester, affording designers wiggle room to add in some other content such as spandex. — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

anagram of expands

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

spandex

noun

span·​dex ˈspan-ˌdeks 

: any of various synthetic elastic textile fibers