spanner

American  

[span-er] / ˈspæn ər /

noun

• spanners
  plural

1. a person or thing that spans.

2. Also called spanner wrench. a wrench having a curved head with a hook or pin at one end for engaging notches or holes in collars, certain kinds of nuts, etc.

3. Chiefly British. a wrench, especially one with fixed jaws.

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spanner British  

/ ˈspænə /

noun

1. a steel hand tool with a handle carrying jaws or a hole of particular shape designed to grip a nut or bolt head

2. informal a source of impediment or annoyance (esp in the phrase throw a spanner in the works )

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spanners
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of spanner

First recorded in 1630–40; span ¹ + -er ¹

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Explanation

A spanner is a type of adjustable wrench. Outside of North America, spanner is just another word for “wrench.” If Americans want to ruin something, they “throw a wrench into it.” British people “throw a spanner in the works.” If you've ever needed to assemble something — like bookshelves — and needed to tighten or loosen a bolt, you probably needed a spanner. A spanner is a type of wrench with an opening and sometimes little teeth: you can clasp it over the nut or bolt and get a good grip. In the US, the main difference between a spanner and other wrenches is the spanner is adjustable and works with many sizes of nuts and bolts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spanner spanners

Trivium said the law, once passed, will add “another spanner to Beijing’s growing counter-sanctions legal tool kit.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

It can reduce the amount you have to borrow when life throws you a spanner.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026

A spanner in the works could be if opposition parties agreed on a rival candidate but talks on this this week appeared to make little headway.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2025

Divorce, obviously, puts a spanner in the works — and two divorces means two spanners — but you’ve managed to come out of those marriages financially intact.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2025

And then your first wife’s bastard throws a spanner in the works by handing the one person most likely to put the crown on Oak’s head to your rival.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Divorce, obviously, puts a spanner in the works — and two divorces means two spanners — but you’ve managed to come out of those marriages financially intact.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2025

Biker jackets were paired with skirts bearing cutouts, shimmering silver jackets were cropped and had large shoulders, while prints on colourful dresses depicted spanners and bolts.

From Reuters ● Sep. 23, 2022

"But physics has a habit of throwing up spanners in the works."

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2021

But before long, Smith throws spanners in the works.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2019

She fell on her knees, threw open the bag, and tumbled out some spanners and a screwdriver that filled the top part of it.

From "1984" by George Orwell

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