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

Fill a seed spreader with seed and use it to distribute seed evenly over your grass. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025

Tate’s social media activity and media appearances are boosted by spreaders of mis- and dis-information and anti-government conspiracy theorists including Alex Jones and Mike Cernovich. —Will Carless, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

Some people are more vulnerable (weaker immune systems), and some people are super spreaders (social media influencers). —Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

The species that have taken hold in Clark County include Culex mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus, and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary spreaders of dengue. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 17 Aug. 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