spinster

noun

spin·​ster ˈspin(t)-stər 

1

: a woman whose occupation is to spin

2

a

archaic : an unmarried woman of a family of high social status

b

: an unmarried woman and especially one past the common age for marrying

3

: a woman who seems unlikely to marry

spinsterhood

ˈspin(t)-stər-ˌhu̇d 

noun

spinsterish

ˈspin(t)-st(ə-)rish 

adjective

spinsterly adjective

Examples of spinster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yes, in this holiday film, becoming a spinster librarian is framed as the narrative equivalent of murder, insanity, or drowning. —Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025

Her most mild-mannered heroines snoop through curtains and hedges; at their most audacious, her spinsters whip out binoculars and sneak uninvited into other people’s homes. —Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025

Vanya is a closeted gay man who shuns intimacy and Sonia is a neurotic spinster who feels unnoticed and unloved. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

On The Gilded Age, Nixon plays Ada, the spinster sister of Agnes (Christine Baranski), in all three seasons. —Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spinster

• minster
• axminster

Kids Definition

spinster

noun

spin·​ster ˈspin(t)-stər 

1

: a woman whose occupation is to spin

2

: an unmarried woman past the usual age for marrying

spinsterhood

-ˌhu̇d 

noun

spinsterish

-st(ə-)rish 

adjective

spinsterly adverb