spandex
noun
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Spandex is a fiber that has had an impact on fashion high and low, casual and formal, outer and under. It's not a trademark, as a number of the names of other fibers are, among them Dacron, Lycra, and Orlon. It's a generic term, coined in 1959 as an anagram of the word expands. Anagrammatic coinages are not common; the only other in our dictionaries that the average person is likely to be familiar with is sideburns. Sideburns is an anagram (and synonym) of burnsides, from Ambrose E. Burnside, a Union general in the American Civil War credited with originating the fashion (in the U.S., at least) also known as side-whiskers.
Examples of spandex in a Sentence
Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2024
The brand describes them as sweat shorts, made with polyester, cotton, and spandex.
—Clint Davis, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024
The pull-on top itself is crafted from flattering polyester and spandex for a close fit.
—Grace Smith, Southern Living, 7 June 2024
Factors to Consider in Compression Socks for Pregnancy Fabric
Typically, compression socks are made from a fabric blend consisting mostly of elastane (spandex or Lycra), nylon, or polyester.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for spandex 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spandex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Spandex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spandex. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
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spandex
noun
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