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• spar
  spar

  noun

  a stout pole such as those used for masts, etc.; a mast, yard, boom, gaff, or the like.
• SPAR
  SPAR

  noun

  (during World War II) a woman enlisted in the women's reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard (disbanded in 1946).
• SpAr
  SpAr

  abbreviation

  Spanish Arabic.

spar

¹ American  

[spahr] / spɑr /

noun

1. Nautical. a stout pole such as those used for masts, etc.; a mast, yard, boom, gaff, or the like.

2. Aeronautics. a principal lateral member of the framework of a wing of an airplane.

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verb (used with object)

sparred, sparring

1. to provide or make with spars.

spar ² American  

[spahr] / spɑr /

verb (used without object)

sparred, sparring

1. (of boxers) to make the motions of attack and defense with the arms and fists, especially as a part of training.

2. to box, especially with light blows.

3. to strike or attack with the feet or spurs, as gamecocks do.

4. to bandy words; dispute.

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noun

1. a motion of sparring.

2. a boxing match.

3. a dispute.

spar ³ American  

[spahr] / spɑr /

noun

1. any of various more or less lustrous crystalline minerals, as fluorspar or feldspar.

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SPAR ⁴ American  

[spahr] / spɑr /

Or Spar

noun

1. (during World War II) a woman enlisted in the women's reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard (disbanded in 1946).

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SpAr ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Spanish Arabic.

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spar ¹ British  

/ spɑː /

verb

1. boxing martial arts to fight using light blows, as in training

2. to dispute or argue

3. (of gamecocks) to fight with the feet or spurs

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noun

1. an unaggressive fight

2. an argument or wrangle

3. informal a close friend

spar ² British  

/ spɑː /

noun

1. 1. any piece of nautical gear resembling a pole and used as a mast, boom, gaff, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a spar buoy

2. a principal supporting structural member of an aerofoil that runs from tip to tip or root to tip

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spar ³ British  

/ spɑː /

noun

1. any of various minerals, such as feldspar or calcite, that are light-coloured, microcrystalline, transparent to translucent, and easily cleavable

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Other Word Forms

• sparlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spar¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spar(r)e, sperre, sper “a board, rafter, beam”; cognate with German Sparren, Dutch, Frisian spar, Old Norse sparri

Origin of spar²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English spar(r)en “to go quickly, rush, dart, thrust”; further origin unknown

Origin of spar³

First recorded in 1575–85; from Middle Low German spar, sper; akin to Old English spær(stān) “gypsum, chalk”

Origin of SPAR⁴

1942; < Latin S ( emper ) par ( ātus ) “Always ready” the Coast Guard motto

Explanation

If you spar with someone, you exchange light blows — either literally by punching each other, or figuratively by exchanging verbal blows. If you box, you might spar with an opponent at the gym while you're training. You don't strike too hard — it’s just practice. Similarly, if you spar with words, you typically do it playfully and without anger. You might repeatedly spar with your mom about who makes the best meatloaf, but it’s all in good fun. Spar is also the name of a rigging pole, as well as of some light minerals like calcite, that you can cut through.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spar SPAR sparred sparring

The 26th president, Teddy Roosevelt, regularly invited professional boxers, military aides and guests to the executive mansion to spar, at least until he suffered a detached retina.

From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2026

Throughout the tense exchange in Justice Samuel Alito’s concurrence and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent, they spar over when the clock of the rule of law should start and stop.

From Slate ● May 5, 2026

Through podcast appearances, tweets and interviews, Milton used social media to build hype for the brand and spar with naysayers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

One reason the U.S. is seen as likely to cede ground is the leverage External link Beijing has shown as it and Washington spar over trade.

From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026

The sheriff gave Abel Martinson a boost, and he lunged in his polar coat toward the cross spar.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

It was joined by BWG Foods, which said the products were no longer listed for distribution across its network of SPAR, EUROSPAR, MACE, Londis and XL stores.

From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2024

So in World War II, she enlisted as a SPAR, becoming the first African American woman in the Coast Guard.

From Time ● May 20, 2015

That has grown into Aerojet-General, a subsidiary that turns out Polaris, Minuteman and Titan rocket motors and a cigar-shaped, 354-ft. ocea-nographical research vessel called the SPAR, which bobs in the seas in a vertical position.

From Time Magazine Archive

Some mighty kind, I dare say, with wealth beyond all counting who came to live up here— SPAR.

From The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan by Sir W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert

So please to wait For thoughts that crop, En tete-a-tete, On mountain top, May not exactly tally With those that you May entertain, Returning to The sober plain Of yon relaxing valley SPAR.

From The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan by Sir W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert

Itauma - who had never gone beyond six rounds professionally - admitted before the fight that he had never even sparred 12 rounds.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

TKV, who has sparred Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, has seen enough behind closed doors to believe Itauma can handle it.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Facebook-parent Meta will defend itself in a landmark social media trial that begins Tuesday in California, where attorneys have sparred over witnesses and financial penalties.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

A former world kickboxing champion who came to the Palisades from the Florida Panhandle in 1982, Blanck has sparred with boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard and trained actors Tom Hanks and Steve Guttenberg.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

I could tell by the narrow line of Maxim’s mouth, and I wondered if brothers and sisters always sparred like this, making it uncomfortable for those who listened.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Francis Warren - son of Queensberry chief Frank - first noticed him as a teenager, sparring established professionals.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Eugène Ionesco’s play, currently running at American Repertory Theater, has the two actors sparring over ideas of alienation and belonging amid the outbreak of a metamorphic disorder.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Fury's seventh-round victory over Wach was heavily criticised by some but it was effectively a public sparring session designed to keep Fury active and keep his name in the conversation.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

A video taken shortly before her rescue showed Jackie sparring with two younger eagles, as she flipped on her back to ward them off with her talons.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

“We will follow the standard rules of sparring conduct.”

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• argue
• bicker
• contend
• quarrel
• wrangle