spandex
noun
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
Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
The merino/nylon/spandex blend hits all the right notes—excellent moisture management, a performance fit that doesn’t bunch or slip, a just-right height equidistant between ankle and calf, and a surprising amount of warmth even in single-digit temps.
—Scott Douglas, Outside, 3 Feb. 2026
Layer Zero’s six-piece launch collection will feature lightweight, flexible shapewear made from a blend of microfiber nylon and spandex offering four-way stretch, moisture wicking and frictionless bonded seams.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
Tanzer evaded suspicion for decades During the 1989 attack, Tanzer wore a black, full-body spandex suit and mask, and wrapped surgical tape around the woman’s head and face.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spandex
Cite this Entry
“Spandex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spandex. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spandex
noun
