spiel
Americannoun
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
(intr) to deliver a prepared spiel
-
to recite (a prepared oration)
Other Word Forms
- spieler noun
Etymology
Origin of spiel
First recorded in 1890–95; (for the noun) from German Spiel or Yiddish shpil “play, game”; (for the verb) from German spielen or Yiddish shpiln “to play, gamble”
Explanation
A spiel is a lengthy, often glib talk that's intended to persuade or make excuses. Infomercials feature salespeople giving a 30-minute spiel about some product. Used as a noun or verb, spiel originates from the German word spielen, meaning “to play." It's often somewhat rehearsed and should be greeted with skepticism. Upon turning 16, your child might give you a spiel about why they need a car for their birthday. In a political debate, if your stance doesn't sound original, thoughtful, and earnest, it may just come across as a spiel, leading your audience to think, "Oh, brother, there they go again."
Vocabulary lists containing spiel
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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.
And meaningful progress turns out to be much harder than simply refashioning an exhibit or a docent’s spiel.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026
Mr. Brady pulled off Don Profondo’s patter song “Medaglie incomparabili,” a tongue-twisting list of precious objects, as an auctioneer’s spiel.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025
He has long integrated assertions about a third term into his political spiel.
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2025
He’s got a spiel he does every time.
From Slate • Oct. 26, 2024
Bob Presto was giving his spiel: “Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for a truly electrifying experience?”
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
