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spareribs

American  
[spair-ribz] / ˈspɛərˌrɪbz /

noun

(used with a plural verb)
  1. a cut of meat from the rib section, especially of pork or beef, with some meat adhering to the bones.

  2. a dish of this meat, usually baked, roasted, or barbecued with a pungent sauce.


Etymology

Origin of spareribs

1590–1600; transposed variant of earlier ribspare < Middle Low German ribbespēr rib cut; compare obsolete spare a cut, slice

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:

Expect spareribs, fried chicken, prime rib and more, and look for the likes of Donald, Daisy, Clarabelle, Goofy and Pluto in new adventure-inspired outfits.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 17, 2025

But it was Meat Rats — and several instances of selling misbranded chicken gizzards, pork spareribs and other meat — that put an end to Ya Feng, which ceased operations at the end of 2022.

From Seattle Times Jul. 30, 2023

Popular add-ins include boiled and sliced chicken, braised duck, Chinese sausage, spareribs, mushrooms and other vegetables.

From Salon Aug. 5, 2021

When choosing racks for this recipe, whether baby backs or full spareribs, make sure that the meat is well marbled with fat, and that there’s a substantial cushion of meat between the bones.

From New York Times Jul. 9, 2018

"Boom!" said Madame Hoo, placing a plate of spareribs on the table.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

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