spreader

noun

spread·​er ˈspre-dər 

: one that spreads: such as

a

: an implement for scattering material

b

: a small knife used especially for spreading butter

c

: a device (such as a bar) holding two linear elements (such as lines, guys, rails) apart and usually taut

Examples of spreader in a Sentence

Mosquito are spreaders of disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many students and their caregivers scrambled over mountainous snow banks and dodged salt spreaders during the morning drop-off. —ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026

And for Austin, South by Southwest also can be a disease-spreader locally and then wherever attendees go after the event is over. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 25 Feb. 2026

Add the seed mixture to a rotary spreader. —Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 25 Feb. 2026

Around 2,600 Sanitation Department employees were working 12 hour shifts, Mamdani said Monday, with 2,300 plows, 700 salt spreaders and 1,400 emergency snow shovelers getting paid $30 an hour working to clear the streets and sidewalks. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spreader

• silent spreader
• super-spreader

Rhymes for spreader

• cheddar
• header
• pedder
• redder
• shredder

Kids Definition

spreader

noun

spread·​er ˈspred-ər 

: one that spreads: as

a

: an implement for scattering material

b

: a small knife used especially for spreading butter