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 fabric, which is OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, is a blend of polyester, rayon, and spandex for durability and comfort. —Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026

The alien protector of Metropolis (and, by extension, America), played with indelible charm and gravitas by Christopher Reeve, is heralded by a brass, four-note riff as simple and bold as his tricolor spandex. —Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026

For Apolo Ohno and Julia Mancuso — who share 12 Olympic medals between them — the medals, spandex and tiaras may be in the past, but the nutritional foundation behind their record-breaking careers remains a non-negotiable part of daily life. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026

Quince's version is made with 24 percent spandex for extra stretch and features a high-cut leg that hits just right to cinch your waist. —Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 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