spacer

noun

spac·​er ˈspā-sər 

plural spacers

: a device or piece used to create or maintain a desired amount of space (as between two parts)

As long as your joints look even, it's more important that you avoid a large grout line at the last tile than worry about sticking to the exact measurement of the spacer.

—Jennifer Stimpson

Stiff spacers of low-expansion materials … may be used to provide a fixed spacing between the end mirrors.

—Arthur L. Schawlow

Use wood shims or spacers where necessary to compensate for wavy ceilings and to make certain the bottom surfaces of all strips are flush.

—Bernard Gladstone

Examples of spacer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new pieces use the same lightweight spacer material the line is known for, but feature a subtle ribbed exterior that gives them a more polished feel. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Mar. 2026

The rag is drenched in cement before the metal pin and the spacer are attached. —Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026

Some see him as a potential lottery pick, an elite floor spacer and shooter who can get his 3-point shot against any defense thanks to his ability to move without the ball and fire off that movement at high speed. —Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026

The Splay toe spacers are great for hammertoes, bunions, plantar fasciitis and overall foot recovery. —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spacer

• acer
• baser
• chaser
• pacer
• racer
• tracer
• eraser
• replacer
• radiotracer

Medical Definition

spacer

noun

spac·​er ˈspā-sər 

: a region of chromosomal DNA between genes that is not transcribed into messenger RNA and is of uncertain function