spatula

American  

[spach-uh-luh] / ˈspætʃ ə lə /

noun

1. an implement with a broad, flat, usually flexible blade, used for blending foods or removing them from cooking utensils, mixing drugs, spreading plasters and paints, etc.

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spatula British  

/ ˈspætjʊlə /

noun

1. a utensil with a broad flat, often flexible blade, used for lifting, spreading, or stirring foods, etc

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Other Word Forms

• spatular adjective

Etymology

Origin of spatula

1515–25; < Latin: a flat piece, batten, equivalent to spath ( a ) spathe + -ula -ule

Example Sentences

Further, one of the spatula papers turned out to have contained a math error.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2026

Norway’s Sven Seljom, a burly 57, described how he uses black Norwegian oats and prefers to use a spatula, to a chorus of boos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 19, 2025

My one good spatula had gone missing under a tea towel stiff with dough.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2025

The mother-of-three has gone on to sell her works - painted exclusively with a palette knife and spatula - for five-figure sums.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2025

She wrapped her spatula arm around me, squeezing and planting a wet one on my hairline.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon