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

Made from a blend of polyester and spandex, the fabric is breathable and comfy enough to wear all day. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 7 June 2025

Shelving, backed with a blend of spandex and mesh, diffuses LED light into a soft ambient glow—less like artificial illumination, more like morning light filtered through linen. —Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

While underwire bras can get a bad reputation, this Soma bra’s wire is concealed in a silky blend of nylon and spandex with four-way stretch. —Shea Simmons, People.com, 29 May 2025

Made from a silky polyester-Lycra spandex microfiber blend, these gloves feel luxurious on your skin, offering full UV protection (UPF 50+). —Marie Lodi, Allure, 22 May 2025

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