spandex

noun

span·​dex ˈspan-ˌdeks How to pronounce spandex (audio)
: any of various elastic textile fibers made chiefly of polyurethane
also : clothing made of this material

Did you know?

Spandex is a fiber that has had an impact on fashion high and low, casual and formal, outer and under. It's not a trademark, as a number of the names of other fibers are, among them Dacron, Lycra, and Orlon. It's a generic term, coined in 1959 as an anagram of the word expands. Anagrammatic coinages are not common; the only other in our dictionaries that the average person is likely to be familiar with is sideburns. Sideburns is an anagram (and synonym) of burnsides, from Ambrose E. Burnside, a Union general in the American Civil War credited with originating the fashion (in the U.S., at least) also known as side-whiskers.

Examples of spandex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Constructed of a cozy blend of acrylic, polyester, cotton, viscose, and spandex, the top is warm but not stifling. Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025 The modal-spandex material is stretchy, cooling, and insanely comfy. Jamie Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025 These three fabrics are overwhelmingly preferred over manmade fibers including polyester (7 percent), spandex (5 percent) and rayon (4 percent). Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025 The Stride Flex Tank features a scoop neckline and racerback straps and is created in a moisture wicking and odor-resistant blend of 66 percent polyester, 30 percent lyocell and 4 percent spandex. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spandex

Word History

Etymology

anagram of expands

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spandex was in 1959

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Cite this Entry

“Spandex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spandex. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

spandex

noun
span·​dex ˈspan-ˌdeks How to pronounce spandex (audio)
: any of various synthetic elastic textile fibers

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