1
: a stout pole
2
a
: a stout rounded usually wood or metal piece (such as a mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging
b
: any of the main longitudinal members of the wing of an airplane that carry the ribs
sparred; sparring
1
a
: box entry 3
especially
: to gesture without landing a blow to draw one's opponent or create an opening
b
: to engage in a practice or exhibition bout of boxing
3
: to strike or fight with feet or spurs in the manner of a gamecock
: any of various nonmetallic usually cleavable and lustrous minerals
Examples of spar in a Sentence
Verb
He's been sparring with his trainer.
They sparred playfully over whose team was better.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
And all eyes are on D.C., where a vaccine health policy spar is underway.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
As lawmakers spar over who is to blame for the weekslong government shutdown, millions of Americans are on the verge of losing critical food aid.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
As America and China spar over the ports that sit on both sides of the Panama Canal, the waterway’s operator wants to enter the ports business on its own.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spar
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Noun
The comedian and actress reflected on the legendary May 2007 exchange that saw the former colleagues spar amid a tense debate about American military activity in the Middle East.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
And all eyes are on D.C., where a vaccine health policy spar is underway.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Outside of individual pressure, the wars between K-pop labels have bled into how superfans of the genre interact online, sparring over their favorites’ chart positions and successes.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
As lawmakers spar over who is to blame for the weekslong government shutdown, millions of Americans are on the verge of losing critical food aid.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Rudy and Leo spar back and forth about who’s not treated equally under the law — Rudy proposes victims of domestic violence; Leo shoots that down — and when the dust settles?
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
As America and China spar over the ports that sit on both sides of the Panama Canal, the waterway’s operator wants to enter the ports business on its own.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spar
Cite this Entry
“Spar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spar. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spar
1 of 2 noun1
: a stout pole
2
: a long rounded usually wood or metal piece (as a mast, boom, or yard) to which a sail is fastened
spar
2 of 2 verb
sparred; sparring
1
: to box or make boxing movements with the fists for practice or in fun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sparre "a stout pole, a pole used to support a sail on a ship"
Verb
Middle English sparren "to dart, spring"
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