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• spencer
  spencer

  noun

  a short, close-fitting jacket, frequently trimmed with fur, worn in the 19th century by women and children.
• Spencer
  Spencer

  noun

  a .52 caliber, lever-action repeating rifle and carbine patented in the U.S. in 1860 and used by the Union army and navy in the Civil War.

spencer

¹ American  

[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

1. a short, close-fitting jacket, frequently trimmed with fur, worn in the 19th century by women and children.

2. a man's close-fitting jacket, having a collar and lapels and reaching just below the waist, worn in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

3. an English wig of the 18th century.

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spencer ² American  

[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

Nautical.

1. a large gaff sail used abaft a square-rigged foremast or abaft the mainmast of a ship or bark.

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Spencer ³ American  

[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

Military.

1. a .52 caliber, lever-action repeating rifle and carbine patented in the U.S. in 1860 and used by the Union army and navy in the Civil War.

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Spencer ⁴ American  

[spen-ser] / ˈspɛn sər /

noun

1. Charles, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, 1674–1722, British statesman: prime minister 1718–21.

2. Herbert, 1820–1903, English philosopher.

3. Platt Rogers 1800–64, U.S. calligrapher and teacher of penmanship.

4. a town in NW Iowa.

5. a town in central Massachusetts.

6. a male given name.

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Spencer ¹ British  

/ ˈspɛnsə /

noun

1. Herbert. 1820–1903, English philosopher, who applied evolutionary theory to the study of society, favouring laissez-faire doctrines

2. Sir Stanley. 1891–1959, English painter, noted esp for his paintings of Christ in a contemporary English setting

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spencer ² British  

/ ˈspɛnsə /

noun

1. a short fitted coat or jacket

2. a woman's knitted vest

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spencer ³ British  

/ ˈspɛnsə /

noun

1. nautical a large loose-footed gaffsail on a square-rigger or barque

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Etymology

Origin of spencer¹

1740–50; spencer ¹ in defs. 1, 2 named after G. J. Spencer (1758–1834), English earl; spencer ¹ in def. 3 named after Charles Spencer

Origin of spencer²

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spencer Spencer

Yesterday the following clothes were sent: 3 pairs of boys trousers, 2 boys dresses, 2 frocks, a spencer, 5 pairs of childrens stays, a pair of boots, and a few other little articles.

From A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller Written by Himself, Third Part by George Müller

As the New Year draws near, I think five florins will be enough for Nany; I have not paid her the charge for making her spencer, on account of her bad behavior to you.

From Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Volume 1 by Ludwig Ritter von Köchel

Truly am I, and well prepared, having my habiliments in a bundle, my umbrella and my great-coat, as well as my spencer for general wear.

From Jacob Faithful by Frederick Marryat

Even the cautious little man in the brown spencer, who wrapped up the remnant of his breakfast in the Times, now opened his whole store, and seemed bent upon a day of rejoicing.

From Jack Hinton The Guardsman by Charles James Lever

The landlady had not lighted us a fire; so p. 23I was obliged to get myself toasted in the kitchen, and when we set off I put on both grey cloak and spencer.

From Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland A.D. 1803 by John Campbell Shairp

Sharma was promoted to CEO of Xbox—a sprawling business that includes its namesake console and big titles like “Call of Duty”— this past February following the exit of gaming industry legend Phil Spencer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

Employees and players say Sharma is dramatically different from her predecessor, Spencer, who was known to play videogames during meetings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

Sir Stanley Spencer, who was born and spent most of his life in Cookham, Berkshire, is probably best known for the series of artworks he created on the theme of resurrection.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the fire, garnered 51%.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

“Get Mrs. Spencer and the little ones, we need to get out of here,” I say, pushing past Lily into the house.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland