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
Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
At her spring show, Marie-Adam Leenaerdt brought back the style, but her shiny spandex stocking version ensures no one confuses the look for child’s play.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
In Motion Airy Sleek Legging Friendly Sweatshirt For a sportier style similar to the quarter-zip Witherspoon wore, opt for this sweatshirt that is made from a spandex-blend material and goes well with leggings or sweatpants.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
The Freewheel is a light (less than 16 ounces) and breathable soft-shell outer layer made from a mix of spandex and recycled nylon to give the jacket unbelievable stretch.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spandex
Cite this Entry
“Spandex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spandex. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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spandex
noun
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