spandex

American  

[span-deks] / ˈspæn dɛks /

noun

Chemistry.

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

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spandex British  

/ ˈspændɛks /

noun

1. a type of synthetic stretch fabric made from polyurethane fibre

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Etymology

Origin of spandex

First recorded in 1955–60; anagram of expands

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spandex

He’s flanked by fountain fireworks while a buff guitarist with a blond mullet and glittery spandex shorts wails on guitar to the tune of Lenny Kravitz’s cover of “American Woman.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

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

I was as impressed by the costumer Alexandra Byrne’s awareness that even super moms won’t immediately snap back into wearing tight spandex.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025

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

In the second room was either Dana’s mother or Dana himself, wearing red spandex pants and a ratty wig.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

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