spanner

noun

span·​ner ˈspa-nər How to pronounce spanner (audio)
1
chiefly British : wrench
2
: a wrench that has a hole, projection, or hook at one or both ends of the head for engaging with a corresponding device on the object that is to be turned

Illustration of spanner

Illustration of spanner
  • spanner 2

Examples of spanner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web European politicians now fear a Magyar spanner in the works. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2023 McCarthy, for instance, largely used his perch to put a spanner in the works of the legislative process while pushing the ridiculous investigations favored by right-wing media and the party’s most radical members. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023 Few affairs of the quantum world are simple, but the spanner in these quantum works is the fact that the Standard Model’s prediction itself is blurry. Rahul Rao, Popular Science, 17 Aug. 2023 To most of the general public, short films are just the spanner that’ll always mess up your Oscars pool. Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2024 The 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, however, tosses a tiny yet highly conductive virtual spanner into that symbiotic groove. Andrew Wendler, Car and Driver, 10 July 2023 There is a strong suspicion that nicotine can throw a spanner in the works throughout this time — a particular concern given the growing popularity of vaping among young people. Anthony King, Scientific American, 13 June 2023 Making these fixes takes more than a spanner or some glue. Solitaire Townsend, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2022 The charges against Luft are just the latest spanner in the works. Tori Otten, The New Republic, 11 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spanner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, instrument for winding springs, from spannen to stretch; akin to Middle Dutch spannen to stretch — more at span

First Known Use

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spanner was circa 1790

Dictionary Entries Near spanner

Cite this Entry

“Spanner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spanner. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spanner

noun
span·​ner ˈspan-ər How to pronounce spanner (audio)
chiefly British

More from Merriam-Webster on spanner

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