spandex

American

[span-deks] / ˈspæn dɛks /

noun

Chemistry.

a synthetic fiber composed of a long-chain polymer, used chiefly in the manufacture of garments to add elasticity.

spandex British

/ ˈspændɛks /

noun

a type of synthetic stretch fabric made from polyurethane fibre

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spandex

First recorded in 1955–60; anagram of expands

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

spandex

Andre Agassi was a Maverick who bucked trends in the late 1980s and early ’90s with neon spandex under jean shorts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

But with a ballet core wardrobe, I can dress like one anyway, play the part of sophisticated dancer — sophisticated woman — in my spandex and satin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

This purification of pregnancy has seen maternity fashions exploit the full potential of spandex, belts, and bows to annunciate rather than conceal the baby bump.

From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025

The men’s option showed a tank top and spandex bike shorts.

From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2024

It was empty, save for a couple of packs of cyclists that whizzed past, wearing those obscenely tight spandex shorts.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023