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

The product also features a toe spreader for proper alignment and a soft gel design that decreases the pain caused by friction and pressure. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

Thanks to its large construction, capacity to hold up to 330 pounds, and balance spreader bar, multiple people can lounge in the hammock at once. —Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026

Government response— The fact that what was once a mainstream social media platform is now perhaps the biggest digital spreader of nonconsensual explicit imagery has put Musk in the crosshairs of governments across the world. —Andrew R. Chow, Time, 9 Jan. 2026

For even coverage, apply half the seed making passes with the spreader in one direction, then apply the second half of the seed in the opposite direction. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025

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