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 station

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

In Wicker, Skarsgård slipped into a much more textured material to play the Wicker Husband of a reclusive spinster Fisherwoman (Olivia Colman), who commissioned a Basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to weave together her fantasy man. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Oct. 2026

In the show, Bertha (Linda Reiter) is an old spinster and a neighbor of the Borden family in Fall River. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026

At age 37, Abby was considered a spinster, and her social class was well below that of her husband. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026

Since no will stating otherwise was ever found, if Lizzie’s father, Andrew, predeceased his wife, then her stepmother was to inherit his fortune, while the two spinster daughters would receive nothing. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026

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