spandex
noun
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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
Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Further, 53 percent of Gen Z shoppers say cotton or cotton blends are the fibers best suited for today’s fashions, followed by polyester (11 percent), silk (8 percent), and Lycra/spandex (2 percent).
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 21 Apr. 2025
The spandex offers a little bit of stretch, while the Sorona polyester creates a fluffy texture that doesn’t feel heavy on your body.
—Jamie Ballard, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025
The polyester, rayon, and spandex blend is lightweight, and the side hems have a slight split, making this ideal for indoor activities or warmer weather.
—Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Spandex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spandex. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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spandex
noun
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