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 status

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

For four seasons, Bridgerton has portrayed Eloise as a spinster who, unlike her siblings, may never marry or find the love of her life. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 29 Jan. 2026

Queens, friends and spinsters Elsewhere in Mayfair, the wheels are turning on the subplots of the season. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026

In this darkly comic folk tale, Olivia Colman also stars as a spinster fisherwoman fighting for her relationship with Skarsgård who stars as a literal tree. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Jan. 2026

Yes, in this holiday film, becoming a spinster librarian is framed as the narrative equivalent of murder, insanity, or drowning. —Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Dec. 2025

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